BACKGROUND: Chagas disease is no longer limited to Latin America and is becoming frequent in industrialised countries in Europe and United States. METHODS: A descriptive study of Latin American immigrants in Barcelona attending two centres for imported diseases during a period of 3 years. The main outcome was the identification of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals in a non-endemic country and the characterization of their clinical and epidemiological features. RESULTS: A total of 489 Latin American patients participated in the study. Forty-one percent were infected by T. cruzi, and the most frequent country of origin was Bolivia. All T. cruzi infected patients were in chronic stages of infection. 19% of cases had cardiac disorders and 9% had digestive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of participants in this study were infected by T. cruzi and various factors were found to be associated to the infection. It is important to improve clinical and epidemiological knowledge of T. cruzi infection in non-endemic countries and to develop appropriate screening and treatment protocols in these settings.
BACKGROUND:Chagas disease is no longer limited to Latin America and is becoming frequent in industrialised countries in Europe and United States. METHODS: A descriptive study of Latin American immigrants in Barcelona attending two centres for imported diseases during a period of 3 years. The main outcome was the identification of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals in a non-endemic country and the characterization of their clinical and epidemiological features. RESULTS: A total of 489 Latin American patients participated in the study. Forty-one percent were infected by T. cruzi, and the most frequent country of origin was Bolivia. All T. cruzi infectedpatients were in chronic stages of infection. 19% of cases had cardiac disorders and 9% had digestive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of participants in this study were infected by T. cruzi and various factors were found to be associated to the infection. It is important to improve clinical and epidemiological knowledge of T. cruzi infection in non-endemic countries and to develop appropriate screening and treatment protocols in these settings.
Authors: María Flores-Chavez; Israel Cruz; Javier Nieto; Teresa Gárate; Miriam Navarro; Ana Pérez-Ayala; Rogelio López-Vélez; Carmen Cañavate Journal: Clin Vaccine Immunol Date: 2012-07-03
Authors: María-Jesús Pinazo; Gerard Espinosa; Montserrat Gállego; Paulo Luis López-Chejade; Julio A Urbina; Joaquim Gascón Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Chiara Di Girolamo; Giulia Martelli; Anna Ciannameo; Caterina Vocale; Marco Fini; Angelo Stefanini; Maria Paola Landini; Pierluigi Viale; Gabriella Verucchi Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2016-06
Authors: M Carmen Thomas; Ana Fernández-Villegas; Bartolomé Carrilero; Concepción Marañón; Daniel Saura; Oscar Noya; Manuel Segovia; Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya; Carlos Alonso; Manuel Carlos López Journal: Clin Vaccine Immunol Date: 2011-12-07
Authors: María-Jesús Pinazo; José Muñoz; Elizabeth Posada; Paulo López-Chejade; Montserrat Gállego; Edgar Ayala; Elena del Cacho; Dolors Soy; Joaquim Gascon Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2010-09-07 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Fernando Salvador; Marianela Mego; Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá; María Morís; Kathleen Ramírez; Ana Accarino; Juan-Ramon Malagelada; Fernando Azpiroz; Israel Molina Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2015-03-16 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: José M Ramos; Yamileth Ponce; Ingrid Gallegos; María Flóres-Chávez; Carmen Cañavate; Félix Gutiérrez Journal: Pathog Glob Health Date: 2012-05 Impact factor: 2.894
Authors: José M Ramos; Diego Torrús; Concepción Amador; Francisco Jover; Fabiola Pérez-Chacón; Yamileth Ponce; Francisco J Arjona; Elena Caro; Concepción Martínez-Peinado; Ingrid Gallegos; José M Cuadrado; Antonio Tello; Felix Gutiérrez Journal: Pathog Glob Health Date: 2012-10 Impact factor: 2.894