Chagas disease knocks on our door: a cross-sectional study among Latin American immigrants in Milan, Italy.
Authors
Antinori, SGalimberti, L
Grande, R
Bianco, R
Oreni, L
Traversi, L
Ricaboni, D
Bestetti, G
Lai, A
Mileto, D
Gismondo, MR
Petulla, M
Garelli, S
De Maio, G
Cogliati, C
Torzillo, D
Villa, AM
Egidi, AM
Repetto, EC
Ridolfo, AL
Corbellino, M
Galli, M
Issue Date
2018-12-01Submitted date
2019-07-11
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors for Chagas disease (CD) in Latin American immigrants and to evaluate the accuracy of diagnostic tests. Moreover, we offered to all positive subjects a complete free-of-charge clinical/instrumental evaluation as well as benznidazole treatment in order to stage the disease and verify drug tolerability. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of CD among Latin Americans living in Milan and its metropolitan area was conducted between July 2013 and July 2014. Blood samples were tested for serologic evidence of CD together with a questionnaire covering demographic and clinical-epidemiological information. RESULTS: Forty-eight (9.6%) of the 501 tested subjects were conclusively diagnosed as having CD. The highest prevalence of CD was among those from Bolivia (43/169, 25.4%) and El Salvador (4/68, 5.9%). Older age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)] 1.05, p =0.004), a Bolivian origin (aOR 8.80; p =0.003), being born in the department of Santa Cruz (aOR 3.72, p =0.047), having lived in mud houses (aOR 2.68; p =0.019), and having an affected relative (aOR 12.77, p =0.001) were independently associated with CD. The ARCHITECT Chagas test showed the highest sensitivity (100%) and specificity (99.8%). Twenty-nine of the subjects with CD (60.4%) underwent disease staging, 10 of whom (35.7%) showed cardiac and/or digestive involvement. Benznidazole treatment was associated with high frequency of adverse reactions (19/27, 70.4%) and permanent discontinuation (8/27, 29.6%). CONCLUSIONS: CD is highly prevalent among Bolivians and Salvadorans living in Milan. Regions with a large Latin American immigrant population should implement programmes of active detection and treatment.Publisher
ElsevierPubMed ID
29555394Language
enISSN
1469-0691ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.cmi.2018.03.017
Scopus Count
Collections
Related articles
- Cross-sectional, descriptive study of Chagas disease among citizens of Bolivian origin living in Munich, Germany.
- Authors: Navarro M, Berens-Riha N, Hohnerlein S, Seiringer P, von Saldern C, Garcia S, Blasco-Hernández T, Navaza B, Shock J, Bretzel G, Hoelscher M, Löscher T, Albajar-Viñas P, Pritsch M
- Issue date: 2017 Jan 16
- Serological evaluation for Chagas disease in migrants from Latin American countries resident in Rome, Italy.
- Authors: Pane S, Giancola ML, Piselli P, Corpolongo A, Repetto E, Bellagamba R, Cimaglia C, Carrara S, Ghirga P, Oliva A, Bevilacqua N, Al Rousan A, Nisii C, Ippolito G, Nicastri E
- Issue date: 2018 May 8
- Validation of a rapid immunochromatographic assay for diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among Latin-American Migrants in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Authors: Chappuis F, Mauris A, Holst M, Albajar-Vinas P, Jannin J, Luquetti AO, Jackson Y
- Issue date: 2010 Aug
- The sero-prevalence of antibodies to trypanosoma cruzi in Latin American refugees and immigrants to Canada.
- Authors: Steele LS, MacPherson DW, Kim J, Keystone JS, Gushulak BD
- Issue date: 2007 Jan
- Prevalence of Chagas Disease in the Latin American-born Population of Los Angeles.
- Authors: Meymandi SK, Forsyth CJ, Soverow J, Hernandez S, Sanchez D, Montgomery SP, Traina M
- Issue date: 2017 May 1