American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 78, Issue 5, 2008, Pages 754-759

Evaluation of the impact of overseas pre-departure treatment for infection with intestinal parasites among montagnard refugees migrating from Cambodia to North Carolina (Article)

Shah J.J. , Maloney S.A. , Liu Y. , Flagg E.W. , Johnston S.P. , Young S.A. , Weston R. , Merritt S. , Wilkins P.P. , Keane V. , Calderon J. , Sharp D.J. , Causer L. , Maguire J.H. , Cetron M.S.
  • a Novartis Vaccines, MS X-600A, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
  • b International Emerging Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop D59, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4018, United States
  • c Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4018, United States
  • d Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop E46, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4018, United States
  • e Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop F36, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, United States
  • f North Carolina Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 1915 MSC, 5505 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27699-1915, United States
  • g Omak Clinic, 916 Koala Drive, Omak, WA 98841, United States
  • h North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, Mail Service Center 1918, 306 North Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27611-8047, United States
  • i Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop F36, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, United States
  • j 84 Napier Street, Cottesloe, WA 6011, Australia
  • k International Organization for Migration, Surya Building, JI. M. H. Thamrin Kav. 9, Jakarta 10350, Indonesia
  • l Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop G24, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • m National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
  • n University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Howard Hall, 660 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
  • o Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4018, United States

Abstract

We evaluated the effectiveness of an overseas pre-departure regimen of five days of albendazole for presumptive treatment of intestinal parasites by examining stool specimens in treated and untreated Montagnard refugees after arrival in the United States. Among 815 refugees evaluated, fully treated refugees had a significantly lower prevalence of helminths (11 [1.4%] of 777), specifically hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides, than untreated pregnant women (3 [20%] of 15) (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that treatment was associated with significantly lower rates of infection with helminths but not protozoa. Post-arrival gastrointestinal symptoms were not associated with findings on stool examination. Our evaluation suggests that although additional studies are needed to determine optimal treatment regimens for intestinal parasites, especially among young children and pregnant women, a five-day course of pre-departure albendazole was effective in reducing helminthic infection in treated refugees. Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee Cambodia Anthelmintics human Trypanosomiasis, African infection rate Refugees travel North Carolina feces analysis Aged Animals United States Ascaris lumbricoides Humans Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) Tsetse Flies Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Adolescent male female Albendazole Infant Multivariate Analysis newborn Ancylostomatoidea Protozoa Article gastrointestinal symptom Vermes infection prevention major clinical study adult intestine infection helminthiasis immunoglobulin G intestine parasite hookworm Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-45349109200&partnerID=40&md5=2e000a59773fb904926768f813249f64
ISSN: 00029637
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English