ABSTRACT
Objectives: Given the scarcity of data regarding prevalence of various infectious diseases in Latin-American countries, our study aims to assess the burden of T. cruzi, S. stercoralis, HIV and viral hepatitis in Latin-American migrants, with a focus on Bolivian migrants.MethodsWe performed a retrospective observational study of 565 screening evaluations in adults (≥18 years) carried out at our International Healthcare referral service in Barcelona. We reviewed structured clinical records and microbiological results of patients attended between February 2012 and April 2015.ResultsThe median age was 35 years and 74% were women. Of the population screened, 87% were of Bolivian origin. We found a 48% prevalence of T. cruzi, 16% of S. stercoralis, 0.2% of HIV, 0.2% HBV and 0.2% HCV.ConclusionsThese results support the relevance of screening for T. cruzi and S. stercoralis in Bolivian migrants but challenge the pertinence of systematic screening for HBV in this population. (AU)
Objetivos: Dada la escasez de datos con relación a la prevalencia de diversas enfermedades infecciosas en los países iberoamericanos, el objetivo de nuestro estudio fue evaluar la carga de T. cruzi, S. stercoralis, VIH y hepatitis vírica en los emigrantes iberoamericanos, con especial atención en los emigrantes bolivianos.MétodosEstudio observacional retrospectivo de 565 cribados en adultos (≥ 18 años) realizado en nuestro servicio de Servicio de Salud Internacional en Barcelona. Revisamos los registros clínicos estructurados y los resultados microbiológicos de los pacientes asistidos entre febrero de 2012 y abril de 2015.ResultadosLa edad media fue de 35 años y el 74% fueron mujeres. El origen boliviano representó el 87% de la población cribada. Encontramos una prevalencia de 48% de T. cruzi, 16% de S. stercoralis, 0,2% de VIH, 0,2% de VHB y 0,2% de VHC.ConclusionesEstos resultados respaldan la relevancia del cribado de T. cruzi y S. stercoralis en migrantes bolivianos, aunque cuestiona la pertinencia del cribado sistemático de VHB en esta población. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Chagas Disease/diagnosis , Chagas Disease/epidemiology , Emigrants and Immigrants , Hepatitis, Viral, Human , Bolivia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Given the scarcity of data regarding prevalence of various infectious diseases in Latin-American countries, our study aims to assess the burden of T. cruzi, S. stercoralis, HIV and viral hepatitis in Latin-American migrants, with a focus on Bolivian migrants. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study of 565 screening evaluations in adults (≥18 years) carried out at our International Healthcare referral service in Barcelona. We reviewed structured clinical records and microbiological results of patients attended between February 2012 and April 2015. RESULTS: The median age was 35 years and 74% were women. Of the population screened, 87% were of Bolivian origin. We found a 48% prevalence of T. cruzi, 16% of S. stercoralis, 0.2% of HIV, 0.2% HBV and 0.2% HCV. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the relevance of screening for T. cruzi and S. stercoralis in Bolivian migrants but challenge the pertinence of systematic screening for HBV in this population.
Subject(s)
Chagas Disease , Emigrants and Immigrants , Hepatitis, Viral, Human , Transients and Migrants , Adult , Bolivia/epidemiology , Chagas Disease/diagnosis , Chagas Disease/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Mass Screening , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Abstract Fascioliasis is a freshwater snail-borne zoonotic disease. The Northern Bolivian Altiplano is a very high altitude endemic area where the highest human prevalences and intensities have been reported. Preventive chemotherapy by treatment campaigns is yearly applied. However, liver fluke infection of cattle, sheep, pigs and donkeys assures endemicity and consequent human infection and re-infection risks. A One Health action has therefore been implemented. Activity concerns lymnaeid vectors and environment diversity. Studies included growth, egg-laying and life span in laboratory-reared lymnaeids. Different habitat types and influencing factors were assessed. All populations proved to belong to Galba truncatula by rDNA sequencing. Analyses comprised physico-chemical characteristics and monthly follow-up of water temperature, pH and quantity, and lymnaeid abundance and density. Population dynamics in the transmission foci differed. Mean environmental temperature was lower than fluke development minimum temperature threshold, but water temperature was higher, except during winter. A two generations/year pattern appeared in permanent water habitats, and one generation/year pattern in habitats drying out for months. The multidisciplinary control measures can be extended from one part of the endemic area to another. These studies, made for the first time at very high altitude, constitute a baseline useful for fascioliasis control in other countries.
Resumo A fasciolíase é uma doença zoonótica transmitida para os humanos por formas evolucionárias de Fasciola hepatica oriundas de limneídeos infectados. O Altiplano Boliviano Norte é uma área endêmica de altitude muito alta, onde foram relatadas as maiores prevalências e intensidades em infecções humanas. A quimioterapia preventiva por campanhas de tratamento é aplicada anualmente. No entanto, infecção por Fasciola hepatica em bovinos, ovelhas, suínos e asininos garante endemicidade e consequentes riscos de infecção e reinfecção humana. Portanto, ações norteadas no conceito "One Health" foram implementadas. As atividades envolveram os limneídeos e a avaliação da diversidade de ambientes. Os estudos incluíram o crescimento, postura de ovos e expectativa de vida de limneídeos criados em laboratório, bem como a avaliação da influência dos diferentes hábitats. Todas as populações foram identificadas como Galba truncatula por meio do sequenciamento de rDNA. As análises incluíram características físico-químicas e acompanhamento mensal da temperatura, pH, quantidade da água, abundância e densidade de limneídeos. A dinâmica populacional nos focos de transmissão diferiu. A temperatura ambiente média foi mais baixa do que o limite mínimo de temperatura do desenvolvimento do helminto, mas a temperatura da água foi mais alta, exceto durante o inverno. Um padrão de duas gerações/ano apareceu em hábitats com água permanente, enquanto um padrão de uma geração/ano foi observado em habitats que ficam secos durante meses. Os resultados permitem concluir que as medidas multidisciplinares de controle podem ser estendidas de uma parte da área endêmica para outra. Esses estudos, realizados pela primeira vez em altitudes muito elevadas, constituem uma base útil e extrapolável para o controle da fasciolíase.
