Intestinal parasitoses in a tertiary-care hospital located in a non-endemic setting during 2006–2010

BMC Infectious Diseases

Maria Cristina Arcangeletti¹  Carlo Chezzi¹  Maria Cristina Medici¹  Flora De Conto¹  Chiara Gorrini¹  Sabina Rossi¹  Sara Montecchini¹  Adriana Calderaro¹ 

[1] Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy

关键词: Italy;    Diagnosis;    Epidemiology;    Helminths;    Protozoa;    Intestinal parasitosis;   

Others  :  1127782
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2334-14-264

 received in 2013-11-06, accepted in 2014-05-07,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology of intestinal parasitoses during a 5-year period in patients attending a tertiary-care hospital in a non-endemic setting.

Methods

In the period 2006–2010, 15,752 samples from 8,886 patients with clinically suspected parasitosis were subjected to macroscopic and microscopic examination, to parasitic antigen detection assays, and to cultures for protozoa and nematodes. Real-time PCR assays for the differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica and E. dispar and for the detection of Dientamoeba fragilis were also used.

A statistical analysis evaluating the demographic data of the patients with intestinal parasitic infections was performed.

Results

Intestinal parasitic infections were diagnosed in 1,477 patients (16.6% prevalence), mainly adults and immigrants from endemic areas for faecal-oral infections; protozoa were detected in 93.4% and helminths in 6.6% of the cases, the latter especially in immigrants. Blastocystis hominis was the most common intestinal protozoan, and G. intestinalis was the most frequently detected among pathogenic protozoa, prevalent in immigrants, males, and pediatric patients. Both single (77.9%) and mixed (22.1%) parasitic infections were observed, the latter prevalent in immigrants.

Conclusions

Despite the importance of the knowledge about the epidemiology of intestinal parasitoses in order to adopt appropriate control measures and adequate patient care all over the world, data regarding industrialized countries are rarely reported in the literature. The data presented in this study indicate that intestinal parasitic infections are frequently diagnosed in our laboratory and could make a contribution to stimulate the attention by physicians working in non-endemic areas on the importance of suspecting intestinal parasitoses.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Calderaro et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Savioli L, Smith H, Thompson A: Giardia and Cryptosporidium join the “neglected disease initiative”. Trends Parasitol 2006, 22:203-208.
• [2]Pierce KK, Kirkpatrick BD: Update on human infections caused by intestinal protozoa. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2008, 25:12-17.
• [3]World Health Organization: Diarrhoeal diseases. [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/ webcite]
• [4]Mejia R, Nutman TB: Screening, prevention, and treatment for hyperingection syndrome and disseminated infections caused by Strongyloides stercoralis. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2012, 25:458-463.
• [5]Masucci L, Graffeo R, Bani S, Bugli F, Boccia S, Nicolotti N, Fiori B, Fadda G, Spanu T: Intestinal parasites isolated in a large teaching hospital, Italy, 1 May 2006 to 31 December 2008. Euro Surveill 2011, 16:5.
• [6]Newell DG, Koopmans M, Verhoef L, Duizer E, Aidara-Kane A, Sprong H, Opsteegh M, Langelaar M, Threfall J, Scheutz F, van der Giessen J, Kruse H: Food-borne diseases - The challenges of 20 years ago still persist while new ones continue to emerge. Int J Food Microbiol 2010, 139:S3-S15.
• [7]Pozio E: Epidemiology and control prospects of foodborne parasitic zoonoses in the European Union. Parassitol 2008, 50:17-24.
• [8]Gualdieri L, Rinaldi L, Petrullo L, Gorgoglione ME, Maurelli MP, Musella V, Piemonte M, Caravano L, Coppola MG, Cingoli G: Intestinal parasites in immigrants in the city of Naples (southern Italy). Acta Trop 2011, 117:196-201.
• [9]Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma [http://www.ao.pr.it/chi-siamo/lospedale/ webcite]
• [10]The Emilia Romagna regional health service. Facilities, expenditure, activities as of 31.12.2011 programs, agreements and organizational models [http://www.saluter.it/documentazione/rapporti/ssr/Pubblicazione_SSR_ingl2012.pdf webcite]
• [11]Conferenza territoriale sociale e sanitaria della provincia di Parma - Ufficio di Presidenza: La comunità in cui viviamo (2008). Profilo di comunità. [http://www.ao.pr.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ctss_profilo-comunita.pdf webcite]
• [12]Garcia LS, Bruckner DA: Macroscopic and microscopic examination of fecal specimens. In Diagnostic Medical Parasitology . 3rd edition. Edited by ASM Press. Washington, DC; 1997a:608-651.
• [13]Garcia LS, Bruckner DA: Additional Techniques for Stool Examination. In Diagnostic Medical Parasitology. 3rd edition. Edited by ASM Press. Washington, DC; 1997b:652-669.
• [14]Calderaro A, Gorrini C, Bommezzadri S, Piccolo G, Dettori G, Chezzi C: Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar comparison of two PCR assay for diagnosis in a non-endemic setting. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2006, 100:450-457.
• [15]Calderaro A, Gorrini C, Montecchini S, Peruzzi P, Piccolo G, Rossi S, Gargiulo F, Manca N, Dettori G, Chezzi C: Evaluation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the laboratory diagnosis of giardiasis. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2010, 66:261-267.
• [16]Calderaro A, Montecchini S, Gorrini C, Dettori G, Chezzi C: Similar diagnostic performances of antigen detection and nucleic acid detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in a low-prevalence setting. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2011, 70:72-77.
• [17]Garcia LS, Bruckner DA: Intestinal Nematodes. In Diagnostic Medical Parasitology. 3rd edition. Edited by ASM Press. Washington, DC; 1997c:218-247.
• [18]Calderaro A, Gorrini C, Montecchini S, Peruzzi P, Piccolo G, Rossi S, Gargiulo F, Manca N, Dettori G, Chezzi C: Evaluation of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of Dientamoeba fragilis. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2010, 67:239-245.
• [19]Giangaspero A, Berrilli F, Brandonisio O: Giardia and Cryptosporidium and public health: the epidemiological scenario from the Italian perspective. Parasitol Res 2007, 101:1169-1182.
• [20]Manganelli L, Berrilli F, Di Cave D, Ercoli L, Capelli G, Otranto D, Giangaspero A: Intestinal parasite infections in immigrant children in the city of Rome, related risk factors and possible impact on nutritional status. Parasite Vector 2012, 5:265-269. BioMed Central Full Text
• [21]Calderaro A, Gorrini C, Peruzzi S, Piccolo G, Dettori G, Chezzi C: An 8-year survey on the occurrence of imported malaria in a nonendemic area by microscopy and molecular assay. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2008, 19:434-439.
• [22]Calderaro A, Piccolo G, Gorrini C, Montecchini S, Rossi S, Medici MC, Chezzi C, Snounou G: A new real-time PCR for the detection of Plasmodium ovale wallikeri. PLoS One 2012, 7:e48033.
• [23]Poirier P, Wawrzyniak I, Vivare’ CP, Delbac F, El Alaoui H: New insights into Blastocystis spp.: a potential link with irritable bowel syndrome. PLoS Pathog 2012, 8:e1002545.
• [24]Monis PT, Cacciò SM, Thompson RCA: Variation in Giardia: towards a taxonomic revision of the genus. Trends Parasitol 2009, 25:93-100.
• [25]Hotez PJ, Brindley PJ, Bethony JM, King CH, Pearce EJ, Jacobson J: Helminth infections: the great neglected tropical diseases. J Clin Invest 2008, 118:1311-1321.
• [26]Harhay MO, Horton J, Olliaro PL: Epidemiology and control of human gastrointestinal parasites in children. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2010, 8:219-234.