Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
Volume 12, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 673-679

Epidemiological features of intestinal infection with Entamoeba histolytica in Taiwan, 2002-2010 (Article)

Leung P.-O. , Chen K.-H. , Chen K.-L. , Tsai Y.-T. , Liu S.-Y. , Chen K.-T.*
  • a Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Liouying Campus, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
  • b Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
  • c Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
  • d Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
  • e Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
  • f Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Department of Occupational Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, No. 670, Chongde Road, East District, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan

Abstract

Amebiasis remains an important public health problem worldwide, and immigration and an increase in international travel have affected the incident cases of the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica in Taiwan between 2002 and 2010. We analyzed data from surveillance programs run by the Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan (Taiwan CDC), and only laboratory-confirmed cases were analyzed. In total, 1796 cases with E. histolytica infections were included in our analysis. Among them, 788 (44%) of the cases were imported, and 1008 (56%) were locally acquired. The average annual incidence rate of E. histolytica infections was 0.49 and 9.26 per 100,000 for local patients and immigrants/foreign workers from endemic countries, respectively. The annual incidence of E. histolytica infections among immigrants/foreign workers was significantly higher than among Taiwanese who had not traveled abroad (P < 0.0001). Travelers to E. histolytica-endemic areas (e.g., Southeast countries) had a higher risk acquiring an E. histolytica infection. This study emphasized that E. histolytica infection is an important intestinal infectious disease in Taiwan. The risk of infection with E. histolytica for travelers was higher for those with destinations in South and Southeast Asia. To control E. histolytica infections in Taiwan, a sensitive surveillance system needs to be established, and the amebiasis-screening program for immigrants/foreign workers from endemic countries should be enforced. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Author Keywords

Taiwan Immigrant Amebiasis travel medicine Imported case

Index Keywords

parasitology immigrant Entamoeba histolytica Population Surveillance human epidemiology sex difference middle aged travel morbidity Databases, Factual factual database Taiwan Young Adult foreign worker disease surveillance Humans Dysentery, Amebic Entamoebiasis male amebiasis female risk factor Risk Factors Incidence Article fatality major clinical study adult migration Feces endemic disease intestine infection Emigration and Immigration health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84916879856&doi=10.1016%2fj.tmaid.2014.04.010&partnerID=40&md5=9134232f2ea7cceb489dc3a235f2da1b
DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2014.04.010
ISSN: 14778939
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English