10 research outputs found
Intestinal parasites in immigrants in the city of Naples (southern Italy)
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