title: Parasitic infections in travelers and immigrants: part I protozoa.
abstract: The growth in international commerce, travel and migration contribute to the global emergence of certain parasitic infections. Importation of vectors and food products may contribute to the emergence of protozoan infections in nonendemic countries. Infections such as malaria are potentially fatal, especially in nonimmune patients, and outcome depends largely on timely diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis/management of imported parasitic infections may be complex especially as some patients may have underlying immunosuppressive conditions such as HIV infection. Major challenges concern the development of improved diagnostic techniques, safer/more effective drug therapies and identification of biological markers of progression and response to treatment. Imported parasitic diseases which may be transmitted vertically or through blood transfusion/organ donation could become a public health priority in the near future. Climate change may affect arthropod distribution and facilitate the spread of protozoan vector-borne diseases. The first part of this review focuses on protozoan infections in travelers and immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine & Clinical Parasitology, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Ctra. De Colmenar, Km 9.1, 28034 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesca F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monge-Maillo
authors.forename: Ángela
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Martínez-Pérez
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Perez-Molina
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Vélez
mesh_terms: D057231:Climate Change; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006801:Humans; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D011634:Public Health; D014195:Travel
keywords: African trypanosomiasis; Chagas disease; immigration; leishmaniasis; malaria; neglected diseases; parasitic diseases; travel