Intestinal parasites in immigrants in the city of Naples (southern Italy)

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 117; no. 3; pp. 196 - 201
• Main Authors: Gualdieri, L., Rinaldi, L., Petrullo, L., Morgoglione, M.E., Maurelli, M.P., Musella, V., Piemonte, M., Caravano, L., Coppola, M.G., Cringoli, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01-03-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acetates - chemistry; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ancylostomatoidea - parasitology; Animals; Ascaris; Ascaris lumbricoides; Ascaris lumbricoides - parasitology; Biological and medical sciences; Blastocystis hominis; Blastocystis hominis - parasitology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dicrocoelium dendriticum; Emigrants and Immigrants; Entamoeba dispar; Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoeba histolytica - parasitology; Entamoeba moshkovskii; Enterobius vermicularis; epidemiology; ethyl acetate; Feces - parasitology; Female; FLOTAC; General aspects; Giardia duodenalis; Giardia lamblia; Giardia lamblia - parasitology; health services; Helminths; hookworms; Humans; Hymenolepis nana; Immigrants; immigration; Infant; Infectious diseases; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - diagnosis; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - parasitology; Italy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Naples; Parasitic diseases; parasitoses; Prevalence; Protozoa; Public Health; Schistosoma mansoni; Strongyloides stercoralis; surveys; Taenia; Trichostrongylus; Trichuris - parasitology; Trichuris trichiura; Young Adult; Italy; Europe; Italy, Campania, Napoli; Naples; Protozoa; Italy; FLOTAC; Immigrants; Helminths; Immigrant; Helmintha; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Tropical medicine; Intestinal parasitosis; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2010.12.003

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▶ Health screening of immigrant populations is needed to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. ▶ A cross-sectional copromicroscopic survey of helminths and intestinal protozoa in immigrants in Naples (southern Italy) was conducted. ▶ A total of 514 immigrants were tested comparing the FLOTAC dual technique and the ethyl acetate concentration technique. ▶ Combined results of the two techniques revealed an overall prevalence of parasitic infections of 61.9%. ▶ FLOTAC technique detected a higher number of positive results than the ethyl acetate concentration technique.
The present study was aimed at carrying out a cross-sectional copromicroscopic survey of helminths and intestinal protozoa in immigrants in Naples (southern Italy). Between October 2008 and November 2009, a total of 514 immigrants were tested comparing the FLOTAC dual technique and the ethyl acetate concentration technique. Combined results of the two techniques served as a diagnostic ‘gold’ standard and revealed an overall prevalence of parasitic infections of 61.9% (318/514). The ethyl acetate concentration technique detected a low number of positive results (49.0%) and this was confirmed for each helminth/protozoa species detected. Among helminths, Trichuris trichiura (3.9%), hookworms (3.7%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (1.4%) were the most prevalent. Strongyloides stercoralis (0.4%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.4%), Schistosoma mansoni (1.0%), Hymenolepis nana (1.6%) and Taenia spp. (0.2%) were also found, as well as zoonotic helminths, as Trichostrongylus spp. (0.8%) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.8%). As regard to pathogenic protozoa, Blastocystis hominis was the most commonly detected (52.7%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar/Entamoeba moshkovskii (11.9%) and Giardia duodenalis (4.5%). Several issues concerning diagnosis, epidemiology and public health impact of parasitic infections in immigrants are offered for discussion. In conclusion, the present paper pointed out the need of better diagnosis and cure of the immigrants population in order to improve access to health care of this neglected and marginalised population group, for its own protection and care.