title: [Screening of parasitic diseases in the asymptomatic immigrant population].
abstract: Parasitic diseases suppose an important health problem in people from high endemic areas, so these must be discarded properly. Usually, these infections develop asymptomatically but, in propitious situations, are likely to reactivate themselves and can cause clinical symptoms and/or complications in the receiving country. Moreover, in some cases it is possible local transmission. Early diagnosis of these parasitic diseases made by appropriate parasitological techniques and its specific treatment will benefit both, the individual and the community. These techniques must be selected according to geoepidemiological criteria, patient's origin, migration route or time spent outside the endemic area; but other factors must also be considered as its sensitivity and specificity, implementation experience and availability. Given the high prevalence of intestinal parasites on asymptomatic immigrants, it is recommended to conduct a study by coproparasitological techniques. Because of its potential severity, the screening of asymptomatic malaria with sensitive techniques such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is also advisable. Serological screening for Chagas disease should be performed on all Latin American immigrants, except for people from the Caribbean islands. Other important parasites, which should be excluded, are filariasis and urinary schistosomiasis, by using microscopic examination. The aim of this paper is to review the different techniques for the screening of parasitic diseases and its advices within the care protocols for asymptomatic immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goterris
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, PROSICS, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bocanegra
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, PROSICS, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serre-Delcor
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Zaira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Moure
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, PROSICS, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Treviño
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zarzuela
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Mateu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espasa
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España. Electronic address: esulleir@vhebron.net.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sulleiro
mesh_terms: D058345:Asymptomatic Infections; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Asintomático; Asymptomatic; Chagas disease; Cribado; Enfermedad de Chagas; Enfermedades parasitarias; Esquistosomiasis; Estrongiloidiasis; Filariasis; Immigrants; Inmigrantes; Intestinal parasitosis; Malaria; Parasitic diseases; Parasitosis intestinales; Schistosomiasis; Screening; Strongyloidiasis