[Consensus document for the detection and management of Chagas disease in primary health care in a non-endemic areas]. / Documento de consenso sobre el abordaje de la enfermedad de Chagas en atención primaria de salud de áreas no endémicas.

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Although it is commonly transmitted by an insect vector in continental Latin-America, in recent decades, due migration, has been diagnosed in other countries such Spain, the European country with a largest immigrant population of Latin American. For a long time, the patient remains asymptomatic, but some years after this stage, the symptoms can be serious (dilated cardiomyopathy, megacolon, megaesophagus). In addition, detection in pregnant women has a high priority because of the route of vertical transmission. Several specific guidelines about Chagas disease has been developed on the Banks of blood, maternal hospitals, HIV co-infection, organ transplant. But due to the detection of lack of information to primary care professionals, we consider to will be useful this document written and agreed to by family phisicians, pediatricians and specialists in International Health.

[Global HIV epidemiology and current migration]. / Epidemiologia del VIH/sida en el mundo y el fenómeno migratorio actual.

One of the current characteristics of migration is its tendency to concentrate in industrialized countries, as well as its feminization and diversity. From a healthcare point of view, the phenomenon of migration has aroused interest in the possible transfer of transmissible infectious diseases from some regions to others and the impact that this could have on public health. When discussing immigration and AIDS, there is a risk of stigmatizing vulnerable people, who are generally healthy. Some of the infectious diseases these people contract are partly due to the conditions experienced on the journey or once they are settled in the host country. The epidemiological pattern of HIV transmission in immigrants is the same as that in their countries of origin. Although the distribution of HIV subtypes is more or less localized, there is a tendency toward progressive dispersion of all subtypes in different geographical areas and toward new recombinant subtypes.

Persistence of Zika virus in semen 93 days after the onset of symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: Zika virus is mainly transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, although mother-to-child and sexual transmission have also been described. The presence of Zika virus in semen after infection seems to be not uncommon, but the duration of viral persistence has not been well-determined. METHODS: Molecular, serological and cell culture methods were used for the diagnosis and follow up of a case of Zika virus infection imported from Venezuela. Serial samples of serum, urine and semen were analyzed to investigate the persistence of the Zika virus. RESULTS: Zika virus was detected in semen samples up to 93 days after the onset of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the persistence of Zika virus in semen samples for long periods after infection.

[Imported parasitic diseases in the immigrant population in Spain]. / Parasitosis importadas en la población inmigrante en España.

BACKGROUND: Migration has contributed to the emergence of certain infectious diseases in host countries. In Spain the number of immigrants has increased exponentially in recent decades. The aim of this review is to identify and analyze the available information on imported parasitic diseases in immigrant population in our country. METHODS: A scope review of original articles published on imported parasitic diseases between 1998 and 2012. Study populations from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and individuals who are under the definition of an immigrant from International Organization for Migration were included. The literature search was performed in the Medline and MEDES-MEDicina databases. RESULTS: A total of 51 descriptive studies were included in the analysis. Most immigrants attended at referral health facilities were originally from sub-Saharan Africa (between 16%-87%), followed by Latin America (13%-37%), while Asia was the region less represented (0.2%-8.8%). A considerable proportion (6.5-31%) of immigrants that attended to referral units of tropical medicine or inmigrant health, and that were originally from Latin America, particularly those from Bolivia, are affected by the Chagas disease, and several cases of mother-to-child transmission have been registered in our country. CONCLUSION: Imported parasitosis is a frequent diagnosis among migrant population. This review highlight the impact that migration has had on the emergence of certain imported parasitic diseases, being Chagas disease the most paradigmatic example.

Prevalence of Chagas disease in the Latin American immigrant population in a primary health centre in Barcelona (Spain).

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to detect the seroprevalence of chagasic infection in children and women of child-bearing age in a primary care health centre in Barcelona (Spain). Serological screening was performed with an immunochromatography (IC) test (Stat Pak Chagas de Chembio) and all positive and doubtful results were confirmed by two ELISA tests using recombinant and whole Trypanosoma cruzi antigens. Prevalence of 4.3% was detected in the child-bearing age group women. General practitioners and paediatricians are concerned by Chagas disease, now an emergent health disease in non-endemic countries.