Schistosomiasis in european travelers and migrants: Analysis of 14 years tropnet surveillance data

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 97, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 567-574

Schistosomiasis in european travelers and migrants: Analysis of 14 years tropnet surveillance data (Article) (Open Access)

Lingscheid T.* , Kurth F. , Clerinx J. , Marocco S. , Trevino B. , Schunk M. , Muñoz J. , Gjørup I.E. , Jelinek T. , Develoux M. , Fry G. , Jänisch T. , Schmid M.L. , Bouchaud O. , Puente S. , Zammarchi L. , Mørch K. , Björkman A. , Siikamäki H. , Neumayr A. , Nielsen H. , Hellgren U. , Paul M. , Calleri G. , Kosina P. , Myrvang B. , Ramos J.M. , Just-Nübling G. , Beltrame A. , Da Cunha J.S. , Kern P. , Rochat L. , Stich A. , Pongratz P. , Grobusch M.P. , Suttorp N. , Witzenrath M. , Hatz C. , Zoller T.

^a Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Infektiologie und Pneumologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany
^b Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Infektiologie und Pneumologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany
^c Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
^d Centro per le Malattie Tropicali, Ospedale S. Cuore, Negrar, Verona, Italy
^e Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit, Hospital Vall d'Hebron Drassanes, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
^f Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
^g ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
^h Infectious Diseases Unit, Herlev University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
ⁱ Berlin Centre for Travel and Tropical Medicine, Berlin, Germany
^j Service de Parasitologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
^k Tropical Medical Bureau, Dublin, Ireland
^l Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Heideberg, Heidelberg, Germany
^m Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
ⁿ Consultation de Médecine Tropicale, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France
^o Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
^p Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
^q Department of Medicine, National Centre for Tropical Infectious Diseases, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
^r Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
^s Inflammation Centre, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
^t Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
^u Department of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
^v Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
^w Department and Clinic of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
^x Travel Medicine Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital-ASLTO2, Turin, Italy
^y Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
^z Oslo University Hospital, Ulleval, Norway
^a Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Alicante, Spain
^b Department of Internal Medicine II, Section Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Main, Germany
^c Centro per le Malattie Tropicali, Ospedale S. Cuore, Negrar, Verona, Italy, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
^d Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
^e Department of Internal Medicine III, Comprehensive Infectious Diseases Center, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
^f Department of Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine, Travel Clinic, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
^g Abteilung Tropenmedizin, Missionsärztliche Klinik, Würzburg, Germany
^h Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Rostock University Medical Center, Germany
ⁱ Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
^j Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Infektiologie und Pneumologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany
^k Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Infektiologie und Pneumologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany
^l Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
^m Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Infektiologie und Pneumologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Germany, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Abstract

Schistosomiasis remains one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases worldwide and the infection is frequently found in travelers and migrants. The European Network for Tropical Medicine and Travel Health conducted a sentinel surveillance study on imported schistosomiasis between 1997 and 2010. This report summarizes epidemiological and clinical data from 1,465 cases of imported schistosomiasis. Direct pathogen detection and serology were the main diagnostic tools applied. Of these, 486 (33%) cases were identified among European travelers, 231 (16%) among long-term expatriates, and 748 (51%) among non-European immigrants. Overall, only 18.6% of travelers had received pretravel advice; 95% of infections were acquired in the African region. On species level, Schistosoma mansoni was identified in 570 (39%) and Schistosoma haematobium in 318 (22%) cases; 57.5% of patients were symptomatic. Acute symptoms were reported in 27% of patients leading to earlier presentation within 3 months. Praziquantel was used in all patients to treat schistosomiasis. Many infections were detected in asymptomatic patients. In 47.4% of asymptomatic patients infection was detected by microscopy and in 39% by serology or antigen testing. Schistosomiasis remains a frequent infection in travelers and migrants to Europe. Travelers should be made aware of the risk of schistosomiasis infection when traveling to sub-Saharan Africa. Posttravel consultations particularly for returning expatriates are useful given the high potential for detecting asymptomatic infections. © 2017 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Africa south of the Sahara Anthelmintics Europe human middle aged anthelmintic agent travel statistics and numerical data Aged geographic distribution Animals animal Young Adult Sentinel Surveillance Humans migrant Adolescent consultation Infant, Newborn male Schistosoma mansoni Aged, 80 and over female very elderly preschool child Infant Child, Preschool newborn asymptomatic infection prevalence Schistosoma haematobium Article major clinical study adult schistosomiasis migration serology microscopy praziquantel Transients and Migrants microorganism detection Child

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85026880706&doi=10.4269%2fajtmh.17-0034&partnerID=40&md5=0421c56d660d70effd84fd103bcb3e4d

DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0034

ISSN: 00029637

Cited by: 20

Original Language: English