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Villalobos N, J MM, Nuñez M G, Figueroa D A, Flisser A, Sciutto E. Why are tapeworm carriers so difficult to find? A methodological proposal for their search and recovery. Exp Parasitol 2023; 250:108529. [PMID: 37015309 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium, is a life-threatening condition and the most severe form of the disease. Yet, despite being a required link in the parasite life cycle, tapeworm carriers are rarely reported. This study is aimed to find and evaluate T. solium carriers, describing some characteristics of these patients and the treatment. Taeniasis cases were searched for in various Mexican states from 1983 to 2016. Previous informed consent, tapeworm-carrier patients were administered with niclosamide and a saline purge. Parasite specimens were recovered and identified, both morphologically and by PCR. From 117 treated patients, Taenia sp. specimens were obtained from 46 subjects (47.8%). From these, complete parasites were recovered from 42 (90.5%), and only detached proglottids from 4 patients. Cases were more frequent in Morelos, Chiapas, and Guerrero. More than one adult cestode was recovered from 4 patients (9.5%). To improve treatment efficacy and adherence, the drug was administered in late afternoon, resulting a high recovery yield of complete parasites (90.5%). The success rate of deworming campaigns in areas of Mexico and the world that are endemic for Taenia sp. could be improved by administering the treatment at times that do not interfere with the patients' daily activities, and national health authorities could apply this simple strategy to help eradication efforts in endemic areas. The detection of carriers will only be possible through the coordinated efforts of public and private health services, a better education of the general population to improve self-detection, and adequate, personalized diagnostic procedures for suspect cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Villalobos
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico.
| | - Martinez M J
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - G Nuñez M
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Academic Unit No. 2, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero, 41940, Mexico
| | - A Figueroa D
- Universidad Tecnológica Del Mar Del Estado de Guerrero, Marquelia, Guerrero, 41937, Mexico
| | - A Flisser
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - E Sciutto
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
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Tilli M, Botta A, Bartoloni A, Corti G, Zammarchi L. Hospitalization for Chagas disease, dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis, Italy, 2011-2016. Infection 2020; 48:695-713. [PMID: 32418191 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-020-01443-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze epidemiology and burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Italy. METHODS We used Hospital Discharge Records and number of residents in Italy to calculate number and rate of hospitalization for Chagas disease, dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, Taenia solium taeniasis, and cysticercosis by sex, citizenship group, and region in the period 2011-2016. RESULTS 7195 hospitalizations for NTDs were retrieved, accounting for 7375 diagnoses, 60% in Italians and 40% in foreigners. Male-to-female ratio was 2; the age group more commonly affected was 25-44 years (32.5%). The most common diagnoses were leishmaniasis (34%), schistosomiasis (29%), strongyloidiasis (12%), Chagas disease (8%), and dengue (8%). Average yearly hospitalization rate per 100,000 residents for all NTDs was 2.05, 1.33, and 10.39 in general population, Italians, and foreign citizens, respectively. Hospitalization rates higher than 100 per 100,000 subjects were found in citizens from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Bolivia. CONCLUSIONS NTDs have a not negligible burden in Italy. The most clinically relevant NTDs in Italy are leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis, followed by strongyloidiasis, Chagas disease, and dengue. Cystic echinococcosis, that was not included in the analysis since a similar study on this disease was recently published, should also be listed among the leading NTD in Italy. While schistosomiasis has its highest burden on population coming from highly endemic areas such as SSA, leishmaniasis is especially relevant in Italian-born residents of southern regions. Education at university and post-graduate levels, to increase the awareness of healthcare professionals on these topics, as well as targeted public health interventions (such as screening or presumptive treatment in high-risk groups), are an asset to improve clinical management and control of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tilli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Annarita Botta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
- Referral Center for Tropical Diseases of Tuscany Region, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Corti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
- Referral Center for Tropical Diseases of Tuscany Region, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
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Pomari E, Ursini T, Silva R, Leonardi M, Ligozzi M, Angheben A. Concomitant Infection of Helicobacter pylori and Intestinal Parasites in Adults Attending a Referral Centre for Parasitic Infections in North Eastern Italy. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9082366. [PMID: 32722134 PMCID: PMC7465117 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9082366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori and intestinal parasites are estimated to infect with high burden worldwide. However, their concomitant infections are poorly determined in industrialized countries, such as Italy. In this study we aim at describing the presence of H. pylori as well as the proportion of coinfections with intestinal parasites among subjects who attended a referral center for tropical diseases in Northern Italy. Methods: This was a case-control study. Screening for H. pylori and parasites was performed on stool samples of 93 adults from different geographical origin (Africa, Asia, South-America, East-Europe and Italy). H. pylori infection was examined by CLIA and its cagA positivity was determined by rtPCR. Intestinal parasites (i.e., protozoa and helminths) were examined by microscopy and rtPCR. Results: Sixty-one out of 93 patients (66%) were positive to H. pylori and 31 (33%) were cagA+. Among H. pylori positives, 45 (74%) had a concomitant infection. The coinfection H. pylori–Blastocystis was the most frequent one, followed by H. pylori–E. coli. Multivariable logistic regression showed that positivity to H. pylori was associated with having a coinfection. Conclusion: Our data suggested that H. pylori and intestinal parasitic infections are fairly common in subjects who attended a referral center for tropical diseases in Northern Italy. The high rate of H. pylori infection, and especially the positivity to the virulent cagA+, should be taken into consideration in subjects undergoing screening for parasitic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Pomari
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy; (T.U.); (R.S.); (M.L.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-04-5601-3111
| | - Tamara Ursini
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy; (T.U.); (R.S.); (M.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Ronaldo Silva
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy; (T.U.); (R.S.); (M.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Martina Leonardi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy; (T.U.); (R.S.); (M.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Marco Ligozzi
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Andrea Angheben
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy; (T.U.); (R.S.); (M.L.); (A.A.)
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Abraham A, Schmidt V, Kaminski M, Stelzle D, De Meijere R, Bustos J, Sahu PS, Garcia HH, Bobić B, Cretu C, Chiodini P, Deksne G, Dermauw V, Devleesschauwer B, Dorny P, Fonseca A, Gabriël S, Gómez-Morales MA, Kucsera I, Laranjo-González M, Trevisan C, Vilhena M, Walker NF, Zammarchi L, Winkler AS. Epidemiology and surveillance of human (neuro)cysticercosis in Europe: is enhanced surveillance required? Trop Med Int Health 2020; 25:566-578. [PMID: 32083787 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To report on relevant national surveillance systems of (N)CC and taeniasis (the infection with the adult tapeworm) in the European Union/European Economic Area and to assess the magnitude of (N)CC occurrence by retrieving information on cases for the period 2000-2016. METHODS (N)CC cases were retrieved via national reporting systems, a systematic literature search, contact with clinicians and a search for relevant 'International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems' (ICD)-based data. RESULTS Mandatory notification systems for (N)CC were found in Hungary, Iceland and Poland. Ten cases were reported in Poland and none in Hungary and Iceland. Through the systematic literature review and information given by clinicians, 263 individual and 721 aggregated (N)CC cases from 19 European countries were identified. ICD-based data were obtained from five countries. From 2000 to 2016, a total of 3489 cases (N)CC cases were coded: 832 in Italy, eight in Latvia, 357 in Portugal, 2116 in Spain and 176 in Sweden. CONCLUSION Despite being classified as a possible eradicable disease, (N)CC is still diagnosed across Europe, yet its true extent and impact remain unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Abraham
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Centre for Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Veronika Schmidt
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Centre for Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Miriam Kaminski
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik Stelzle
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert De Meijere
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Javier Bustos
- Cysticercosis Unit, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Hector Hugo Garcia
- Cysticercosis Unit, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru
| | - Branko Bobić
- Centre of Excellence for Food- and Vector-borne Zoonoses, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Carmen Cretu
- Department of Parasitology, Carol Davila University of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Peter Chiodini
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College Hospital, London, UK.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Gunita Deksne
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Riga, Latvia.,Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Veronique Dermauw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Brecht Devleesschauwer
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pierre Dorny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ana Fonseca
- Public Health Department, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sarah Gabriël
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | | | - Minerva Laranjo-González
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Chiara Trevisan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Manuela Vilhena
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
| | - Naomi F Walker
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College Hospital, London, UK.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Sylvia Winkler
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Centre for Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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No Confirmed Cases of Taenia solium Taeniasis in a Group of Recently Arrived Sub-Saharan Migrants to Italy. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8040296. [PMID: 31847324 PMCID: PMC6963956 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8040296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
One-hundred and sixty-four migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa to Italy were screened with the Taenia solium specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay coproantigen (ELISA CoAg) and four (2.4%) were recorded as positive, but with optical density values near to the cut-off. No ELISA CoAg positive samples were confirmed by parasitological methods. Low positivity could be attributed to false positive result or cross-reaction with other Taenia species. Further studies are needed to assess the role of migration on sporadic autochthonous transmission of T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis in Europe.
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Occurrence of intestinal parasites among asylum seekers in Italy: A cross-sectional study. Travel Med Infect Dis 2018; 27:46-52. [PMID: 30300756 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years Europe has experienced a dramatic increase in migration flows. Nevertheless, limited data is available about the occurrence of neglected parasitic diseases among migrant population. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal and urinary parasites in newly arrived asylum seekers. METHODS A total of 364 newly arrived migrants hosted at the Asylum Seekers Centre of Castelnuovo di Porto (Italy) were screened during 8 months period for intestinal and urinary parasites. Each enrolled subject was interviewed using a standardized questionnaire, with focus on socio-demographical data and risk factors of parasitic infections. RESULTS Stool analysis showed a prevalence of intestinal parasites of 20.6%. The travel route did not affect the prevalence of intestinal parasites (p = 0.096), while a significant negative correlation was found between the length of travel and the prevalence of parasite infection (p = 0.019). No statistically significant correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms and the presence of intestinal parasites was detected. CONCLUSION The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis reported in asylum seekers does not necessarily reflect the prevalence of the parasitosis in the motherland. An anamnestic and syndromic approach may not be sufficient to highlight the problem of intestinal parasitic infestations in a screening setting.
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