Afona Chernet1,2, Andreas Neumayr1,2, Christoph Hatz1,2, Kerstin Kling1,2, Véronique Sydow1,2, Katharina Rentsch2,3, Jürg Utzinger1,2, Nicole Probst-Hensch1,2, Hanspeter Marti1,2, Beatrice Nickel1,2, Niklaus D Labhardt4,5,6. 1. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland. 2. University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 3. Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 4. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland. n.labhardt@unibas.ch. 5. University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. n.labhardt@unibas.ch. 6. Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. n.labhardt@unibas.ch.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed at determining the prevalence of selected infectious diseases among recently arrived Eritrean refugees in Switzerland. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, asymptomatic Eritrean migrants aged ≥16 years who arrived <24 months ago were recruited at refugee centres in Switzerland. Infectious disease screening included serology for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and schistosomiasis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for malaria, stool microscopy for helminths and intestinal protozoa and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) testing in urine for schistosomiasis. RESULTS: Among 107 participating Eritrean refugees, point-of-care CCA urine test for Schistosoma mansoni was positive in 43 patients (40.2%; 95% CI 31.9-49.5). Stool microscopy detected eggs of S. mansoni in 23 (21.5%; 95% CI 13.7-29.3), Hymenolepis nana in 11 (10.3%; 95% CI 4.5-16.0), and cysts of Giardia intestinalis in 7 participants (6.5%: 95% CI 1.9-11.2). Two tested positive for hepatitis B (1.9%; 95% CI 0.0-4.4) and one for syphilis (0.9%; 95% CI 0.0-2.8), none tested positive for HIV or hepatitis C. Malaria PCR was positive in six participants (5.6%; 95% CI: 1.2-9.9). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of S. mansoni infection and potentially severe long-term sequelae of untreated schistosomiasis, routine screening for schistosomiasis in refugees from Schistosoma-endemic regions should be recommended.
OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed at determining the prevalence of selected infectious diseases among recently arrived Eritrean refugees in Switzerland. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, asymptomatic Eritrean migrants aged ≥16 years who arrived <24 months ago were recruited at refugee centres in Switzerland. Infectious disease screening included serology for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and schistosomiasis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for malaria, stool microscopy for helminths and intestinal protozoa and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) testing in urine for schistosomiasis. RESULTS: Among 107 participating Eritrean refugees, point-of-care CCA urine test for Schistosoma mansoni was positive in 43 patients (40.2%; 95% CI 31.9-49.5). Stool microscopy detected eggs of S. mansoni in 23 (21.5%; 95% CI 13.7-29.3), Hymenolepis nana in 11 (10.3%; 95% CI 4.5-16.0), and cysts of Giardia intestinalis in 7 participants (6.5%: 95% CI 1.9-11.2). Two tested positive for hepatitis B (1.9%; 95% CI 0.0-4.4) and one for syphilis (0.9%; 95% CI 0.0-2.8), none tested positive for HIV or hepatitis C. Malaria PCR was positive in six participants (5.6%; 95% CI: 1.2-9.9). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of S. mansoni infection and potentially severe long-term sequelae of untreated schistosomiasis, routine screening for schistosomiasis in refugees from Schistosoma-endemic regions should be recommended.
Authors: D Goldenberger; G J Claas; C Bloch-Infanger; T Breidthardt; B Suter; M Martínez; A Neumayr; A Blaich; A Egli; M Osthoff Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2015-08-13
Authors: K Polman; M M Diakhate; D Engels; S Nahimana; G J Van Dam; S T Falcão Ferreira; A M Deelder; B Gryseels Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2000-08 Impact factor: 2.622
Authors: L Jaton; T Pillonel; K Jaton; E Dory; G Prod'hom; D S Blanc; F Tissot; P Bodenmann; G Greub Journal: Clin Microbiol Infect Date: 2016-06-06 Impact factor: 8.067
Authors: Christina Greenaway; Ann Thu Ma; Lorie A Kloda; Marina Klein; Sonya Cnossen; Guido Schwarzer; Ian Shrier Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-11-11 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Sally Hargreaves; Laura B Nellums; Catherine Johnson; Jacob Goldberg; Panagiotis Pantelidis; Asif Rahman; Jon S Friedland FMedSci Journal: Travel Med Infect Dis Date: 2020-02-29 Impact factor: 6.211
Authors: Patricia Schlagenhauf; Martin P Grobusch; Davidson H Hamer; Hilmir Asgeirsson; Mogens Jensenius; Gilles Eperon; Camilla Rothe; Egon Isenring; Jan Fehr; Eli Schwartz; Emmanuel Bottieau; Elizabeth D Barnett; Anne McCarthy; Paul Kelly; Carsten Schade Larsen; Perry van Genderen; William Stauffer; Michael Libman; Philippe Gautret Journal: Malar J Date: 2018-11-29 Impact factor: 2.979
Authors: Afona Chernet; Nicole Probst-Hensch; Véronique Sydow; Daniel H Paris; Andreas Neumayr; Niklaus D Labhardt Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2019-10-21
Authors: Pytsje T Hoekstra; Afona Chernet; Claudia J de Dood; Eric A T Brienen; Paul L A M Corstjens; Niklaus D Labhardt; Beatrice Nickel; Linda Wammes; Govert J van Dam; Andreas Neumayr; Lisette van Lieshout Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2022-02-28 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Paula Tiittala; Karolina Tuomisto; Taneli Puumalainen; Outi Lyytikäinen; Jukka Ollgren; Olli Snellman; Otto Helve Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-09-24 Impact factor: 3.295