Wuchereria bancrofti infection in Haitian immigrants and the risk of re-emergence of lymphatic filariasis in the Brazilian Amazon

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.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Silva Junior,Edson Fidelis da, Lacerda,Marcus Vinícius Guimarães de, Fontes,Gilberto, Mourão,Maria Paula Gomes, Martins,Marilaine
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 2017
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822017000200256
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