Pathogens (Feb 2020)

High Prevalence of Strongyloidiasis in Spain: A Hospital-Based Study

  • Ana Requena-Méndez,
  • Joaquin Salas-Coronas,
  • Fernando Salvador,
  • Joan Gomez-Junyent,
  • Judith Villar-Garcia,
  • Miguel Santin,
  • Carme Muñoz,
  • Ana González-Cordón,
  • Maria Teresa Cabezas Fernández,
  • Elena Sulleiro,
  • Maria del Mar Arenas,
  • Dolors Somoza,
  • Jose Vazquez-Villegas,
  • Begoña Treviño,
  • Esperanza Rodríguez,
  • Maria Eugenia Valls,
  • Jaume LLaberia-Marcual,
  • Carme Subirá,
  • Jose Muñoz

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9020107
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 2
p. 107

Abstract

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Introduction: Strongyloidiasis is a prevailing helminth infection ubiquitous in tropical and subtropical areas, however, seroprevalence data are scarce in migrant populations, particularly for those coming for Asia. Methods: This study aims at evaluating the prevalence of S. stercoralis at the hospital level in migrant populations or long term travellers being attended in out-patient and in-patient units as part of a systematic screening implemented in six Spanish hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted and systematic screening for S. stercoralis infection using serological tests was offered to all eligible participants. Results: The overall seroprevalence of S. stercoralis was 9.04% (95%CI 7.76−10.31). The seroprevalence of people with a risk of infection acquired in Africa and Latin America was 9.35% (95%CI 7.01−11.69), 9.22% (7.5−10.93), respectively. The number of individuals coming from Asian countries was significantly smaller and the overall prevalence in these countries was 2.9% (95%CI −0.3−6.2). The seroprevalence in units attending potentially immunosuppressed patients was significantly lower (5.64%) compared with other units of the hospital (10.20%) or Tropical diseases units (13.33%) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: We report a hospital-based strongyloidiasis seroprevalence of almost 10% in a mobile population coming from endemic areas suggesting the need of implementing strongyloidiasis screening in hospitalized patients coming from endemic areas, particularly if they are at risk of immunosuppression.

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