Multi-parasite infection in an immigrant from Ghana: potential for new epidemic foci

Authors

  • Maura Fiamma Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy
  • Silvia S Longoni Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive - Tropicali e Microbiologia , IRCCS Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
  • Emmanuel E Siddig Centro di Ricerca sul Micetoma, Università di Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
  • Sonia Attene U.O.C. Laboratorio Analisi, P.O. San Francesco, ATS Sardegna, ASSL Nuoro, Nuoro, Italy
  • Vito Astone U.O.C. Laboratorio Analisi, P.O. San Francesco, ATS Sardegna, ASSL Nuoro, Nuoro, Italy
  • Antonio Nicoletti U.O.S. Nefrologia e Dialisi, P.O. Ospedale Civile, AST Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
  • Bianca Paglietti Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy
  • Antonella Santona Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy
  • Angela Fele U.O.S. Nefrologia e Dialisi, P.O. Ospedale Civile, AST Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
  • Riccardo Ivaldi Nefrologia e Dialisi, Casa di Cura Madonna del Rimedio , Oristano, Italy
  • Francesco Logias U.O.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, P.O. San Francesco, ATS Sardegna, ASSL Nuoro, Nuoro, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.13151

Keywords:

Helminthiasis, microfilariasis, Ghana, Italy, Refugee camp

Abstract

Introduction: Imported parasitosis, which do not require an invertebrate vector, are extremely dangerous and can lead to the occurrence of disease in currently parasite free areas. In the present study we report a case of multi-parasitic infection in a young immigrant from Ghana to Italy caused by filaria, Schistosoma sp. and Strongyloides sp.

Case presentation: A 27-year-old Ghanaian man attended the Hospital of Nuoro (Sardinia), Italy, at the end of August 2015, claiming pain to the kidney and hypertensive crisis; the patient presented with dyspnea and epistaxis, chronic itchy skin of the back, shoulders, arms and legs, anuria and high creatinine, metabolic acidosis and hypereosinophilic syndrome. Serological test for parasitic infections were done, and showed a marked positivity for filaria, Schistosoma sp. and Strongyloides sp. The patient started the treatment immediately with two doses per day of Bassado Antibiotic (tetracycline) for twenty days and then with a single dose of 3 mg of ivermectin that was repeated after 3 months.

Conclusions: Immigrant patients from endemic areas who show clinical signs, such as a general itching on the back, shoulders and arms and legs, should have a thorough history in order to make early diagnosis and prevent further complications. Therefore, general practitioners and doctors in Europe and in other parasitosis non-endemic countries, should consider to test for parasites in any immigrant from endemic countries to aid in establishing the final diagnosis and prevent further complications.

Author Biographies

Maura Fiamma, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy

U.O.C. Laboratorio Analisi, P.O. San Francesco, ATS. Sardegna, ASSL Nuoro, Nuoro

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy

Vito Astone, U.O.C. Laboratorio Analisi, P.O. San Francesco, ATS Sardegna, ASSL Nuoro, Nuoro, Italy

U.O.C. Laboratorio Analisi, P.O. San Francesco, ATS Sardegna, ASSL Nuoro, Nuoro

Antonio Nicoletti , U.O.S. Nefrologia e Dialisi, P.O. Ospedale Civile, AST Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy

U.O.S. Nefrologia e Dialisi, P.O. Ospedale Civile, AST Cosenza, Cosenza

Bianca Paglietti , Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy

Antonella Santona, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy

Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Sassari, Italy

Angela Fele, U.O.S. Nefrologia e Dialisi, P.O. Ospedale Civile, AST Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy

Nefrologia e Dialisi e ialisi Casa di Cura Madonna del Rimedio , Oristano

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Published

2020-11-30

How to Cite

1.
Fiamma M, Longoni SS, Siddig EE, Attene S, Astone V, Nicoletti A, Paglietti B, Santona A, Fele A, Ivaldi R, Logias F (2020) Multi-parasite infection in an immigrant from Ghana: potential for new epidemic foci. J Infect Dev Ctries 14:1344–1348. doi: 10.3855/jidc.13151

Issue

Section

Case Reports