Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Volume 23, Issue 5, 2017, Pages 335.e1-335.e5

Seroprevalence of five neglected parasitic diseases among immigrants accessing five infectious and tropical diseases units in Italy: a cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Martelli G.* , Di Girolamo C. , Zammarchi L. , Angheben A. , Morandi M. , Tais S. , Degani M. , El Hamad I. , Caligaris S. , Ciannameo A. , Grilli E. , Urbinati L. , Monteiro G.B. , Scarcella C. , Petrosillo N. , Digaetano M. , Rabbi L. , Bazzanini N. , Cacciatore F. , Marta B.L. , Moro M.L. , Bartoloni A. , Viale P. , Verucchi G.
  • a Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • b Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • c Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
  • d Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore—Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
  • e Infectious Risk Area—Social and Health Agency of Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy
  • f Service of Epidemiology and Laboratory for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore—Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
  • g Service of Epidemiology and Laboratory for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore—Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
  • h Outpatient clinic for undocumented immigrants—Local Health Authority of Brescia, Italy
  • i Clinic of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  • j Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • k Clinical and Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS-Rome, Italy
  • l Clinic of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  • m Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore—Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
  • n Outpatient clinic for undocumented immigrants—Local Health Authority of Brescia, Italy
  • o Clinical and Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS-Rome, Italy
  • p Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, Infectious Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Polyclinic of Modena, Modena, Italy
  • q Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • r Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • s Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • t Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • u Infectious Risk Area—Social and Health Agency of Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy
  • v Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
  • w Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • x Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Abstract

Objective This multicentre cross-sectional study aims to estimate the prevalence of five neglected tropical diseases (Chagas disease, filariasis, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis and toxocariasis) among immigrants accessing health care facilities in five Italian cities (Bologna, Brescia, Florence, Rome, Verona). Methods Individuals underwent a different set of serological tests, according to country of origin and presence of eosinophilia. Seropositive patients were treated and further followed up. Results A total of 930 adult immigrants were enrolled: 477 men (51.3%), 445 women (47.9%), eight transgender (0.8%); median age was 37.81 years (range 18–80 years). Most of them had come from the African continent (405/930, 43.5%), the rest from East Europe, South America and Asia, and 9.6% (89/930) were diagnosed with at least one of the infections under study. Seroprevalence of each specific infection varied from 3.9% (7/180) for Chagas disease to 9.7% (11/113) for toxocariasis. Seropositive people were more likely to be 35–40 years old and male, and to come from South East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa or South America. Conclusions The results of our study confirm that neglected tropical diseases represent a substantial health problem among immigrants and highlight the need to address this emerging public health issue. © 2017 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Author Keywords

Toxocariasis Neglected tropical diseases immigrants Chagas disease Parasitic infections Italy Strongyloidiasis Imported infections Filariasis Schistosomiasis

Index Keywords

parasitology parasitosis Africa south of the Sahara Europe Follow-Up Studies follow up human middle aged Asia Neglected Diseases Aged neglected disease Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female South America Aged, 80 and over very elderly Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics adult seroepidemiology Italy Seroepidemiologic Studies public health Parasitic Diseases
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85017114314&doi=10.1016%2fj.cmi.2017.02.024&partnerID=40&md5=088a0ae9ebce8d854ff18b3fd663bba5
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.02.024
ISSN: 1198743X
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English