title: Seroprevalence of five neglected parasitic diseases among immigrants accessing five infectious and tropical diseases units in Italy: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This multicentre cross-sectional study aims to estimate the prevalence of five neglected tropical diseases (Chagas disease, filariasis, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis and toxocariasis) among immigrants accessing health care facilities in five Italian cities (Bologna, Brescia, Florence, Rome, Verona).
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals underwent a different set of serological tests, according to country of origin and presence of eosinophilia. Seropositive patients were treated and further followed up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 930 adult immigrants were enrolled: 477 men (51.3%), 445 women (47.9%), eight transgender (0.8%); median age was 37.81 years (range 18-80 years). Most of them had come from the African continent (405/930, 43.5%), the rest from East Europe, South America and Asia, and 9.6% (89/930) were diagnosed with at least one of the infections under study. Seroprevalence of each specific infection varied from 3.9% (7/180) for Chagas disease to 9.7% (11/113) for toxocariasis. Seropositive people were more likely to be 35-40 years old and male, and to come from South East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa or South America.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study confirm that neglected tropical diseases represent a substantial health problem among immigrants and highlight the need to address this emerging public health issue.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: giuliamartelli84@gmail.com.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zammarchi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angheben
authors.affiliation: Infectious Risk Area-Social and Health Agency of Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.affiliation: Service of Epidemiology and Laboratory for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tais
authors.affiliation: Service of Epidemiology and Laboratory for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Degani
authors.affiliation: Outpatient clinic for undocumented immigrants-Local Health Authority of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: El Hamad
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caligaris
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciannameo
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS-Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grilli
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Urbinati
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Outpatient clinic for undocumented immigrants-Local Health Authority of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scarcella
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS-Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrosillo
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Infectious Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Polyclinic of Modena, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Digaetano
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rabbi
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Unit of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bazzanini
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacciatore
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Marta
authors.affiliation: Infectious Risk Area-Social and Health Agency of Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartoloni
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viale
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verucchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011634:Public Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chagas disease; Filariasis; Immigrants; Imported infections; Italy; Neglected tropical diseases; Parasitic infections; Schistosomiasis; Strongyloidiasis; Toxocariasis