High Prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Spain: a hospital-based study

Requena-Méndez, Ana; Salas-Coronas, Joaquín; Salvador, Fernando; Gomez-Junyent, Joan; Villar García, Judit; Santín, Miguel; Muñoz, Carme; González-Cordón, Ana; Cabezas Fernández, Maria Teresa; Sulleiro, Elena; Arenas-Miras, María Del Mar; Somoza, Dolors; Vazquez-Villegas, Jose; Treviño, Begoña; Rodríguez, Esperanza; Valls, Maria Eugenia; Llaberia-Marcual, Jaume; Subirá, Carme; Muñoz, José

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9020107

High Prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Spain: a hospital-based study

Citation

Requena-Méndez A, Salas-Coronas J, Salvador F, Gomez-Junyent J, Villar-Garcia J, Santin M, et al. High Prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Spain: a hospital-based study. Pathogens. 2020 Feb 11; 9(2): 107. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020107

Abstract

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.