Wuchereria bancrofti infection in Haitian immigrants and the risk of re-emergence of lymphatic filariasis in the Brazilian Amazon
Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop; 50 (2), 2017
Publication year: 2017
Abstract INTRODUCTION:
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a public health problem in Haiti. Thus, the emigration of Haitians to Brazil is worrisome because of the risk for LF re-emergence.METHODS:
Blood samples of Haitian immigrants, aged ≥18 years, who emigrated to Manaus (Brazilian Amazon), were examined using thick blood smears, membrane blood filtration, and immunochromatography.RESULTS:
Of the 244 immigrants evaluated, 1 (0.4%) tested positive for W. bancrofti; 11.5% reported as having received LF treatment in Haiti.CONCLUSIONS:
The re-emergence of LF in Manaus is unlikely, due to its low prevalence and low density of microfilaremia among the assessed Haitian immigrants.
Antígenos Helmínticos/sangre, Brasil/epidemiología, Cromatografía de Afinidad, Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/diagnóstico, Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/epidemiología, Filariasis Linfática/diagnóstico, Filariasis Linfática/epidemiología, Emigrantes e Inmigrantes, Haití/etnología, Persona de Mediana Edad, Wuchereria bancrofti/inmunología