Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland.
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Int J Public Health. 2018 Mar;63(2):233-239. doi: 10.1007/s00038-017-1034-x. Epub 2017 Sep 19.
Our study aimed at determining the prevalence of selected infectious diseases among recently arrived Eritrean refugees in Switzerland.
In this cross-sectional study, asymptomatic Eritrean migrants aged ≥16 years who arrived <24 months ago were recruited at refugee centres in Switzerland. Infectious disease screening included serology for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and schistosomiasis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for malaria, stool microscopy for helminths and intestinal protozoa and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) testing in urine for schistosomiasis.
Among 107 participating Eritrean refugees, point-of-care CCA urine test for Schistosoma mansoni was positive in 43 patients (40.2%; 95% CI 31.9-49.5). Stool microscopy detected eggs of S. mansoni in 23 (21.5%; 95% CI 13.7-29.3), Hymenolepis nana in 11 (10.3%; 95% CI 4.5-16.0), and cysts of Giardia intestinalis in 7 participants (6.5%: 95% CI 1.9-11.2). Two tested positive for hepatitis B (1.9%; 95% CI 0.0-4.4) and one for syphilis (0.9%; 95% CI 0.0-2.8), none tested positive for HIV or hepatitis C. Malaria PCR was positive in six participants (5.6%; 95% CI: 1.2-9.9).
Given the high prevalence of S. mansoni infection and potentially severe long-term sequelae of untreated schistosomiasis, routine screening for schistosomiasis in refugees from Schistosoma-endemic regions should be recommended.
本研究旨在确定瑞士新到达的厄立特里亚难民中某些传染病的流行情况。
在这项横断面研究中，我们招募了在瑞士难民中心年龄≥16 岁且入境时间不到 24 个月的无症状厄立特里亚移民。传染病筛查包括 HIV、乙型和丙型肝炎、梅毒和血吸虫病的血清学检测、疟疾的聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测、粪便显微镜检查以检测蠕虫和肠道原生动物以及尿液中循环阴极抗原（CCA）检测以筛查血吸虫病。
在 107 名参与的厄立特里亚难民中，43 名（40.2%；95%CI 31.9-49.5）患者即时 CCA 尿液检测用于曼氏血吸虫呈阳性。粪便显微镜检查发现 23 名（21.5%；95%CI 13.7-29.3）患者有曼氏血吸虫卵，11 名（10.3%；95%CI 4.5-16.0）患者有棘口科吸虫卵，7 名（6.5%：95%CI 1.9-11.2）患者有贾第虫包囊。2 名患者乙型肝炎检测呈阳性（1.9%；95%CI 0.0-4.4），1 名患者梅毒检测呈阳性（0.9%；95%CI 0.0-2.8），无一例 HIV 或丙型肝炎检测呈阳性。6 名患者疟疾 PCR 检测呈阳性（5.6%；95%CI：1.2-9.9）。
鉴于曼氏血吸虫感染率高，且未经治疗的血吸虫病可能会带来严重的长期后果，应建议对来自血吸虫病流行地区的难民进行常规血吸虫病筛查。
