Chiara Papalini, Maria Angeles Gómez-Morales, Alessandra Mercuri, Elisa Stolaj, Maria Grazia Brancaleoni, Igino Fusco Moffa, Giovanni Lo Vaglio, Alessandra Ludovisi, Gianluca Marucci, Daniela Francisci
{"title":"A new human opisthorchiasis outbreak in central Italy: a never-ending story.","authors":"Chiara Papalini, Maria Angeles Gómez-Morales, Alessandra Mercuri, Elisa Stolaj, Maria Grazia Brancaleoni, Igino Fusco Moffa, Giovanni Lo Vaglio, Alessandra Ludovisi, Gianluca Marucci, Daniela Francisci","doi":"10.1007/s15010-024-02340-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Opisthorchis felineus is a trematode causing a foodborne infection transmitted by raw freshwater fish belonging to Cyprinidae family. Human outbreaks in Italy dated back to 2003-2011 and involved lakes of Central Italy. The aim of this study is to report epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the human opisthorchiasis outbreak occurred in Central Italy in 2022 comparing it with previous events.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We report cases diagnosed from June to December 2022 in Perugia hospital thanks to serological and molecular tests and direct examination of feces.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-seven individuals were traced back by epidemiological investigation. Forty-seven received a diagnosis of opisthorchiasis, of which 45 were confirmed cases and two were considered as probable cases. These 47 individuals attended a Trasimeno lakeshore restaurant in May 2022. All but 20 presented symptoms, mostly fever. Sixteen (15 confirmed and 1 probable) cases required hospitalization. Feces examination revealed Opisthorchis spp. eggs in 35/45 (78%) confirmed cases. Thirty individuals underwent to serology and molecular stool test: 5 (16.7%) results positive to the former, 1 (3.3%) to the latter while 4 (13.3%) to both. Laboratory tests, available in 28 patients, showed eosinophilia in 82.1%, increase of alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase in 64.3%, 75% and 67.9%, respectively. Because of pharmacy shortage of praziquantel, 22 patients were treated with albendazole, of which 13 failed clearing the parasite.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Opisthorchiasis still represents a challenging diagnosis, in particular for asymptomatic patients. Albendazole may lead to treatment failure. Control measures in known endemic areas should be implemented.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>number 27,498/23/ON, approved by Ethical Committee of Umbrian Region in 09.13.2023.</p>","PeriodicalId":13600,"journal":{"name":"Infection","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Infection","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-024-02340-8","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Opisthorchis felineus is a trematode causing a foodborne infection transmitted by raw freshwater fish belonging to Cyprinidae family. Human outbreaks in Italy dated back to 2003-2011 and involved lakes of Central Italy. The aim of this study is to report epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the human opisthorchiasis outbreak occurred in Central Italy in 2022 comparing it with previous events.
Methods: We report cases diagnosed from June to December 2022 in Perugia hospital thanks to serological and molecular tests and direct examination of feces.
Results: Sixty-seven individuals were traced back by epidemiological investigation. Forty-seven received a diagnosis of opisthorchiasis, of which 45 were confirmed cases and two were considered as probable cases. These 47 individuals attended a Trasimeno lakeshore restaurant in May 2022. All but 20 presented symptoms, mostly fever. Sixteen (15 confirmed and 1 probable) cases required hospitalization. Feces examination revealed Opisthorchis spp. eggs in 35/45 (78%) confirmed cases. Thirty individuals underwent to serology and molecular stool test: 5 (16.7%) results positive to the former, 1 (3.3%) to the latter while 4 (13.3%) to both. Laboratory tests, available in 28 patients, showed eosinophilia in 82.1%, increase of alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase in 64.3%, 75% and 67.9%, respectively. Because of pharmacy shortage of praziquantel, 22 patients were treated with albendazole, of which 13 failed clearing the parasite.
Conclusion: Opisthorchiasis still represents a challenging diagnosis, in particular for asymptomatic patients. Albendazole may lead to treatment failure. Control measures in known endemic areas should be implemented.
Trial registration: number 27,498/23/ON, approved by Ethical Committee of Umbrian Region in 09.13.2023.
期刊介绍:
Infection is a journal dedicated to serving as a global forum for the presentation and discussion of clinically relevant information on infectious diseases. Its primary goal is to engage readers and contributors from various regions around the world in the exchange of knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases, both in outpatient and inpatient settings.
The journal covers a wide range of topics, including:
Etiology: The study of the causes of infectious diseases.
Pathogenesis: The process by which an infectious agent causes disease.
Diagnosis: The methods and techniques used to identify infectious diseases.
Treatment: The medical interventions and strategies employed to treat infectious diseases.
Public Health: Issues of local, regional, or international significance related to infectious diseases, including prevention, control, and management strategies.
Hospital Epidemiology: The study of the spread of infectious diseases within healthcare settings and the measures to prevent nosocomial infections.
In addition to these, Infection also includes a specialized "Images" section, which focuses on high-quality visual content, such as images, photographs, and microscopic slides, accompanied by brief abstracts. This section is designed to highlight the clinical and diagnostic value of visual aids in the field of infectious diseases, as many conditions present with characteristic clinical signs that can be diagnosed through inspection, and imaging and microscopy are crucial for accurate diagnosis. The journal's comprehensive approach ensures that it remains a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and researchers in the field of infectious diseases.