Case report: Imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among Belgian school travelers to Rwanda
Schistosomiasis is common in many tropical regions and poses a risk for the local population and travelers. In travelers, most of schistosomiasis are described as acute. We report the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics associated with an outbreak of asymptomatic schistosomiasi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Tropical Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fitd.2024.1354031/full |
| _version_ | 1797256342268805120 |
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| author | Silvio Wallemacq Ahalieyah Anantharajah Pamela Baldin Jean-Cyr Yombi Jean-Cyr Yombi Julien De Greef Julien De Greef Leïla Belkhir Leïla Belkhir |
| author_facet | Silvio Wallemacq Ahalieyah Anantharajah Pamela Baldin Jean-Cyr Yombi Jean-Cyr Yombi Julien De Greef Julien De Greef Leïla Belkhir Leïla Belkhir |
| author_sort | Silvio Wallemacq |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Schistosomiasis is common in many tropical regions and poses a risk for the local population and travelers. In travelers, most of schistosomiasis are described as acute. We report the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics associated with an outbreak of asymptomatic schistosomiasis among nonimmune Belgian school travelers in Rwanda. Schistosomiasis was diagnosed by serology in 12 out of the 15 (80%) travelers who swam in the lake nearly 2 years after a single exposure to freshwater at Kivu Lake, Rwanda. None showed signs of acute or chronic schistosomiasis. Eosinophilia was present in only 1 of them. Schistosoma mansoni eggs were not found in any infected patient. This report of an outbreak of asymptomatic schistosomiasis imported from Lake Kivu highlights the risk for travelers of acquiring the infection with only a short and single exposure, and provides strong arguments for routine serological screening for schistosomiasis in all individuals who have had any freshwater contact in endemic areas, irrespective of symptoms or laboratory findings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:20:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f99ccbae72c43d697e5c57b962074fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-7515 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:20:13Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f99ccbae72c43d697e5c57b962074fe2024-03-20T06:10:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Tropical Diseases2673-75152024-03-01510.3389/fitd.2024.13540311354031Case report: Imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among Belgian school travelers to RwandaSilvio Wallemacq0Ahalieyah Anantharajah1Pamela Baldin2Jean-Cyr Yombi3Jean-Cyr Yombi4Julien De Greef5Julien De Greef6Leïla Belkhir7Leïla Belkhir8Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Anatomical Pathology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, BelgiumInstitut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, BelgiumInstitut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, BelgiumInstitut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, BelgiumSchistosomiasis is common in many tropical regions and poses a risk for the local population and travelers. In travelers, most of schistosomiasis are described as acute. We report the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics associated with an outbreak of asymptomatic schistosomiasis among nonimmune Belgian school travelers in Rwanda. Schistosomiasis was diagnosed by serology in 12 out of the 15 (80%) travelers who swam in the lake nearly 2 years after a single exposure to freshwater at Kivu Lake, Rwanda. None showed signs of acute or chronic schistosomiasis. Eosinophilia was present in only 1 of them. Schistosoma mansoni eggs were not found in any infected patient. This report of an outbreak of asymptomatic schistosomiasis imported from Lake Kivu highlights the risk for travelers of acquiring the infection with only a short and single exposure, and provides strong arguments for routine serological screening for schistosomiasis in all individuals who have had any freshwater contact in endemic areas, irrespective of symptoms or laboratory findings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fitd.2024.1354031/fullSchistosomatravelersKivu LakeRwandacase report |
| spellingShingle | Silvio Wallemacq Ahalieyah Anantharajah Pamela Baldin Jean-Cyr Yombi Jean-Cyr Yombi Julien De Greef Julien De Greef Leïla Belkhir Leïla Belkhir Case report: Imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among Belgian school travelers to Rwanda Frontiers in Tropical Diseases Schistosoma travelers Kivu Lake Rwanda case report |
| title | Case report: Imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among Belgian school travelers to Rwanda |
| title_full | Case report: Imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among Belgian school travelers to Rwanda |
| title_fullStr | Case report: Imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among Belgian school travelers to Rwanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case report: Imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among Belgian school travelers to Rwanda |
| title_short | Case report: Imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among Belgian school travelers to Rwanda |
| title_sort | case report imported asymptomatic schistosomiasis among belgian school travelers to rwanda |
| topic | Schistosoma travelers Kivu Lake Rwanda case report |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fitd.2024.1354031/full |
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