Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain

Background: Migrants are disproportionately affected by several infectious diseases differing the risk within migrant groups. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of six chronic infections in asymptomatic migrants attended at primary care or specialized units where health assessments are offe...

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Main Authors: Angeline Cruz, Angela Martínez-Perez, Alex Almuedo-Riera, Carme Roca Saumell, Marina Gigante Lopez, Oriol Gasch, Gemma Falcó, Ana Jiménez-Lozano, Consol Sanchez-Collado, Julio Alonso-Padilla, Juan Carlos Hurtado, Miriam J Álvarez-Martínez, Aina Casellas, Ana Requena-Méndez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Migration and Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623524000679
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author Angeline Cruz
Angela Martínez-Perez
Alex Almuedo-Riera
Carme Roca Saumell
Marina Gigante Lopez
Oriol Gasch
Gemma Falcó
Ana Jiménez-Lozano
Consol Sanchez-Collado
Julio Alonso-Padilla
Juan Carlos Hurtado
Miriam J Álvarez-Martínez
Aina Casellas
Ana Requena-Méndez
author_facet Angeline Cruz
Angela Martínez-Perez
Alex Almuedo-Riera
Carme Roca Saumell
Marina Gigante Lopez
Oriol Gasch
Gemma Falcó
Ana Jiménez-Lozano
Consol Sanchez-Collado
Julio Alonso-Padilla
Juan Carlos Hurtado
Miriam J Álvarez-Martínez
Aina Casellas
Ana Requena-Méndez
author_sort Angeline Cruz
collection DOAJ
description Background: Migrants are disproportionately affected by several infectious diseases differing the risk within migrant groups. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of six chronic infections in asymptomatic migrants attended at primary care or specialized units where health assessments are offered. Methods: A multicentric cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C virus, Strongyloides stercoralis, Schistosoma spp., and Trypanosoma cruzi infections in the migrant population who participated in a screening programme implemented at six primary health care centres, and two infectious diseases outpatient clinics in Catalonia, Spain. Results: Of the 314 recruited migrants, 284 (90.4 %) were tested for at least one infection. The prevalence of the infections was as follows: 1.8 % for HIV, 1.8 % for chronic hepatitis B virus, 14.1 % for previous exposure to a hepatitis B virus infection, 0.4 % for hepatitis C virus infection, 2.6 % for S.stercoralis infection, and 7.0 % for T.cruzi infection. No cases infected with Schistosoma spp. were reported. A higher prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C virus was observed in Sub-Saharan Africans, whereas a higher prevalence of S.stercoralis and T.cruzi infections was reported in migrants from Latin-America and the Caribbean. Conclusion: Findings suggest a high burden of the studied infections, including parasitic infections, in the migrant population with variations within migrant groups based on areas of birth.
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spelling doaj-art-19df1446b6854aba8416f285473d7a6c2025-08-20T02:20:33ZengElsevierJournal of Migration and Health2666-62352024-01-011010027810.1016/j.jmh.2024.100278Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, SpainAngeline Cruz0Angela Martínez-Perez1Alex Almuedo-Riera2Carme Roca Saumell3Marina Gigante Lopez4Oriol Gasch5Gemma Falcó6Ana Jiménez-Lozano7Consol Sanchez-Collado8Julio Alonso-Padilla9Juan Carlos Hurtado10Miriam J Álvarez-Martínez11Aina Casellas12Ana Requena-Méndez13Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona. Carrer Roselló 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Carrer Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona. Carrer Roselló 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centre d'Atenció Primaria Casanova, Consorci d'Atenció Primària de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Carrer Rosselló 161, 08036 Barcelona, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona. Carrer Roselló 132, 08036 Barcelona, SpainFacultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Carrer Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centre d'Atenció Primaria El Clot, Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), Carrer Concilio de Trento 25, 08018 Barcelona, SpainCentre d'Atenció Primaria Numància, Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), Carrer Numància 23, 08029 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Malalties Infeccioses, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT-CERCA), Parc Taulí, 1, 08208 Sabadell-Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Avinguda Can Domènech, Edifici M, 08193 Ballaterra-Barcelona, SpainCentre d'Atenció Primaria Roger, Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), Carrer Roger, 48-64, 08028 Barcelona, SpainCentre d'Atenció Primaria Adrià 5A Marc Aureli, Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), Carrer Vallmajor, 34, 08021 Barcelona, SpainCentre d'Atenció Primaria Torelló, Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), Avinguda Pompeu Fabra, 8, 08570 Torelló-Barcelona, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona. Carrer Roselló 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 1 Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona. Carrer Roselló 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Carrer Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 1 Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona. Carrer Roselló 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Carrer Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Microbiologia, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Carrer Villaroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona. Carrer Roselló 132, 08036 Barcelona, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona. Carrer Roselló 132, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Microbiologia, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Carrer Villaroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.; Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 1, 17177 Solna-Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Solnavägen 1, 17177 Solna-Stockholm, Sweden; Corresponding Author: Ana Requena-Méndez, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Barcelona Institute for Global HealthBackground: Migrants are disproportionately affected by several infectious diseases differing the risk within migrant groups. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of six chronic infections in asymptomatic migrants attended at primary care or specialized units where health assessments are offered. Methods: A multicentric cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C virus, Strongyloides stercoralis, Schistosoma spp., and Trypanosoma cruzi infections in the migrant population who participated in a screening programme implemented at six primary health care centres, and two infectious diseases outpatient clinics in Catalonia, Spain. Results: Of the 314 recruited migrants, 284 (90.4 %) were tested for at least one infection. The prevalence of the infections was as follows: 1.8 % for HIV, 1.8 % for chronic hepatitis B virus, 14.1 % for previous exposure to a hepatitis B virus infection, 0.4 % for hepatitis C virus infection, 2.6 % for S.stercoralis infection, and 7.0 % for T.cruzi infection. No cases infected with Schistosoma spp. were reported. A higher prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C virus was observed in Sub-Saharan Africans, whereas a higher prevalence of S.stercoralis and T.cruzi infections was reported in migrants from Latin-America and the Caribbean. Conclusion: Findings suggest a high burden of the studied infections, including parasitic infections, in the migrant population with variations within migrant groups based on areas of birth.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623524000679MigrantsPrevalenceScreeningInfectious diseasesImported diseasesTravel-related illnesses
spellingShingle Angeline Cruz
Angela Martínez-Perez
Alex Almuedo-Riera
Carme Roca Saumell
Marina Gigante Lopez
Oriol Gasch
Gemma Falcó
Ana Jiménez-Lozano
Consol Sanchez-Collado
Julio Alonso-Padilla
Juan Carlos Hurtado
Miriam J Álvarez-Martínez
Aina Casellas
Ana Requena-Méndez
Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain
Journal of Migration and Health
Migrants
Prevalence
Screening
Infectious diseases
Imported diseases
Travel-related illnesses
title Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain
title_full Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain
title_fullStr Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain
title_full_unstemmed Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain
title_short Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain
title_sort estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants results of a screening programme in catalonia spain
topic Migrants
Prevalence
Screening
Infectious diseases
Imported diseases
Travel-related illnesses
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623524000679
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