Epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases in transplant recipients: review of the literature and experience of a Brazilian HSCT center

Abstract

SUMMARYThe rising success rate of solid organ (SOT) and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and modern immunosuppression make transplants the first therapeutic option for many diseases affecting a considerable number of people worldwide. Consequently, developing countries have also grown their transplant programs and have started to face the impact of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in transplant recipients. We reviewed the literature data on the epidemiology of NTDs with greatest disease burden, which have affected transplant recipients in developing countries or may represent a threat to transplant recipients living in other regions. Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Chagas disease, Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Dengue, Yellow fever and Measles are the topics included in this review. In addition, we retrospectively revised the experience concerning the management of NTDs at the HSCT program of Amaral Carvalho Foundation, a public transplant program of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Zika and chikungunya virus infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and oncohematological patients

“…Brazil is currently experiencing a triple epidemic of DENV, CHKV, and ZIKV, 2 the latter two following the path of DENV, which has been endemic in the country since the 1980s. 3 Few retrospective studies have addressed the question of DENV in transplant recipients, reporting both mild 4,5 and severe cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. [6][7][8] Less information is available in the case of CHKV and ZIKV infections.…”

The monitoring of hematopoietic stem cell transplant donors and recipients from endemic areas for malaria

“…However, in endemic countries the administration of antimalarials for donors and recipients could lead to unnecessary treatment, especially as some antimalarials present side effects. In our experience, none of six donors or recipients with previous history of malaria developed the disease after follow-up, which varied from one to five years 13 . Even in non-endemic regions, the high frequency of traveling to malaria areas represents a risk of transmission, taking into account the possibility of symptomless cases in non-immune patients, as occurs in P. malariae infections 8 .…”

Dengue Virus Cellular Receptors and Tropism

“…aegytpi and Ae. Albopictus [16]. The haematophagous female necessitates a blood meal for oviposition, therefore, Aedes mosquitos usually breed in close proximity to humans.…”