title: Is there a risk of filarial infection during long-term missions in Haiti?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haiti has the highest prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti) in the Western Hemisphere. Still, the risk of filarial infection for long-term visitors such as humanitarian aid workers or military personnel is uncertain. The presented study analyzed the exposure to W. bancrofti in Chilean participants of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples collected from 531 participants were screened for antifilarial antibodies by IgG ELISA, and, if positive, analyzed by immunofluorescence assay (IFA), IgG4 ELISA, Real-Time PCR, and circulating filarial antigen (CFA) card test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ELISA screening was positive in 10 cases. Seroconversion occurred in only two cases (0.38%) based on ELISA values determined in samples taken before and after deployment. Positive IgG ELISA values could not be confirmed by IFA and IgG4 ELISA. Real-Time PCR and CFA testing did not reveal the presence of filaria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that in the examined cohort of MINUSTAH participants in 2011, the risk of filarial exposure or infection was low.
authors.affiliation: Programa Medicina del Viajero, Clínica Alemana, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile; Laboratorio Clínico, Clínica Alemana, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: thomas.weitzel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weitzel
authors.affiliation: Programa de Prevención de la Salud del Personal en Comisión de Servicio en el Extranjero, Comando de Salud del Ejército, Fuerzas Armadas de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Reinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fica
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dabanch
authors.affiliation: Programa de Prevención de la Salud del Personal en Comisión de Servicio en el Extranjero, Comando de Salud del Ejército, Fuerzas Armadas de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polanco
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Militar, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egaña
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Militar, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Vjera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Triantafilo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfarr
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoerauf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reiter-Owona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014480:United Nations; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D018509:DNA, Helminth
keywords: Haiti; Long-term mission; Lymphatic filariasis; Wuchereria bancrofti