Screening and treatment for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis in the EU/EEA for migrant people from endemic countries
Citation: Agbata EN, Morton RL, Bisoffi Z, et al. Effectiveness of screening and treatment approaches for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis in newly-arrived migrants from endemic countries in the EU/EEA: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(1):11.
Language: Abstract and full text available in EN.
Free to view: Yes
Funding sources: European Health Group, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Spain).
What is this? In this systematic review, the authors searched for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and grey literature on screening and treatment for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis among migrants and refugees from endemic countries who arrived in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). They restricted their searches to studies published between January 1993 and February 2017. The authors included 28 studies.
What was found: Based on limited data, migrant populations in the EU/EEA had schistosomiasis rates of 20% to 40% and rates for strongyloidiasis of 10% to 40%. Serology was the most effective method to screen for both infections. Praziquantel and ivermectin were highly effective treatments for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis, respectively. A single-dose of ivermectin for all migrants may be cost-effective.
Implications: The authors of the review stated that screening and treatment for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis among migrants to the EU/EEA from endemic countries could reduce morbidity and mortality. Implementation of screening tests should consider the context of individual countries.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed their findings in the context of place of residence.
This summary was prepared by Joly Ghanawi, checked by Grace Meng, and finalized by William Summerskill.