Occurrence of intestinal parasites among asylum seekers in Italy: A cross-sectional study

Šuleková, Lucia Fontanelli; Ceccarelli, Giancarlo; Pombi, Marco; Esvan, Rozenn; Lopalco, Maurizio; Vita, Serena; Mattiucci, Simonetta; Gabrielli, Simona; Bellanca, G.; Cavallari, Eugenio Nelson; Gangarossa, Gabriele; Dinga, C. Kehbuma; Spaziante, Martina; Amato, Ettore; Bujor, M.; Dimitrova, Elena; Durante, D.; Figueroa, Gloria; Pinna, N.; Vélez, Lázaro A.; Walter, Ida

doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.10.006

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Notably, preschool age children are at a higher risk because of their rapid phase of growth, leading to a rapid depletion of the iron stores when the intake is not sufficient. The occurrence of ID anemia is also adversely affected by intestinal parasitosis [90], whose prevalence has been reported to be around 20% in newly arrived migrants in an Italian study [91]. We found conflicting results that correlate ID to migration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Food Insecurity and Major Diet-Related Morbidities in Migrating Children: A Systematic Review

Dondi

Piccinno²,

Morigi

et al. 2020

Nutrients

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Children of migrant families are known to be at a higher risk of diet-related morbidities due to complex variables including food insecurity, cultural and religious beliefs, and sociodemographic factors like ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and education. Several studies have assessed the presence of specific diseases related to dietary issues in migrant children. This systematic review aims to highlight the existing body of work on nutritional deficiencies in the specific vulnerable pediatric population of immigrants. Refugees were intentionally excluded because of fundamental differences between the two groups including the reasons for migration and health status at the time of arrival. A total of 29 papers were included and assessed for quality. Most of them described a strong correlation between obesity and migration. A high prevalence of stunting, early childhood caries, iron and vitamin D deficiency was also reported, but the studies were few and heterogeneous. Food insecurity and acculturation were found important social factors (nevertheless with inconclusive results) influencing dietary habits and contributing to the development of morbidities such as obesity and other metabolic disorders, which can cause progressive unsustainability of health systems. Public health screening for diet-related diseases in migrant children may be implemented. Educational programs to improve children’s diet and promote healthy-living behaviors as a form of socioeconomic investment for the health of the new generations may also be considered.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Food Insecurity and Major Diet-Related Morbidities in Migrating Children: A Systematic Review

Dondi

Piccinno²,

Morigi

et al. 2020

Nutrients

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“…Migratory journeys, prior living conditions, countries of origin, and health conditions and needs often differ among different refugee categories, which may contribute to the differences in observed stool-based prevalence of parasites [ 38 , 39 ]. A recent study of newly arrived asylum seekers in Italy found prevalence rates of intestinal parasites of 20.6%, of which the majority (83%) were protozoa, including B hominis [ 22 ]. In a sample of asylum seekers in Washington, D.C. the prevalence of pathogenic parasites was much lower at 4%, excluding B hominis and E dispar [ 18 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some earlier studies with data from the 1990s reported higher rates of positive stool samples among refugee newcomers—up to 58.6% in some regions [ 17 , 40 ]. Decreasing rates of parasitic infections, and helminth species in particular, may reflect progress from the WHO’s mass deworming campaigns and improvements in water and sanitation in recent decades [ 22 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intestinal parasites in stool testing among refugees at a primary care clinic in Toronto, Canada

et al. 2022

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Background Enteric parasites are endemic in many of the countries from which refugees originate. Clinical guidelines vary in approaches to screening for and treating intestinal parasites in refugee receiving countries. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and species of intestinal parasites identified in stool ova and parasite (O&P) specimens in a sample of newly arrived refugees in Toronto, Canada. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of 1042 refugee patients rostered at a specialized primary care clinic in Toronto from December 2011 to September 2016. Patients who completed recommended stool O&P analyses were included. Basic sociodemographic and clinical variables and results of stool O&P were examined. Results 419 patients (40.2%) had a stool O&P positive for any protozoan or helminth species. Sixty-nine patients (6.6%) had clinically significant parasite species (excluding B hominis, D fragilis, and E dispar, given their lower risk for causing symptoms/complications): 2.3% had clinically significant protozoans and 4.2% had helminths on stool analysis. Conclusion Given the relatively low prevalence of clinically significant parasites identified, our findings do not support universal screening for enteric parasites with stool O&P among refugee claimants/asylum seekers. However, stool analysis should be considered in certain clinical situations, as part of a more tailored approach.

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“…Medical screening was performed on arrival for all migrants to exclude pathologies that prevent living in the community and to assess health needs of the guests (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Clinical history of all migrants was obtained by an individual interview with the support of a cultural mediator.…”

Section: Clinical Evaluation and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 Among Migrants Recently Arrived in Europe From Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Containment Strategies and Special Features of Management in Reception Centers

Fabris

d’Ettorre

Spagnolello

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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Despite the “migrants and COVID-19” topic has been neglected since felt marginal concerning other aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it represents a relevant public health issue in the European countries. This report describes COVID-19 containment strategies adopted in a large Italian reception center hosting recently arrived asylum-seeker migrants. Risk assessment and prevention measures adopted were described. Geo-spatial epidemiological analysis of the outbreak was reported. Significant gaps in the knowledge of self-protection measures from contagious diseases and in the perception of the pandemic risk were observed in migrants; health promotion activities, targeted to remove cultural barriers and improve behaviors appropriate to individual protection, were able to fulfill this gap. In low-resource settings, especially in closed communities, the implementation of social distancing strategies, the systematic use of individual protection devices, and active syndromic surveillance are essential tools to limit the risk of outbreaks. In the event of an outbreak, it is relevant to rapidly activate containment procedures based on systematic screening, isolation, and quarantine, taking into consideration the limits of tracing contacts within a closed community. Not being able to trace certain contacts, the geo-spatial epidemiological analysis of cases distribution could be key in the management of the outbreak. Interestingly, positive cases identified in our facility were all clinically pauci-symptomatic or asymptomatic. Dedicated strategies are needed to minimize the chance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a limited space such as reception centers and a vulnerable population such as migrants.

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Occurrence of intestinal parasites among asylum seekers in Italy: A cross-sectional study

Cited by 15 publications

References 21 publications

Food Insecurity and Major Diet-Related Morbidities in Migrating Children: A Systematic Review

Food Insecurity and Major Diet-Related Morbidities in Migrating Children: A Systematic Review

Intestinal parasites in stool testing among refugees at a primary care clinic in Toronto, Canada

SARS-CoV-2 Among Migrants Recently Arrived in Europe From Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Containment Strategies and Special Features of Management in Reception Centers

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