Vol 27 No 2 December - The Indian Society for Parasitology
Vol 27 No 2 December - The Indian Society for Parasitology
Vol 27 No 2 December - The Indian Society for Parasitology
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
JPD : <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>27</strong> (2), 2003<br />
Parasitic infections in travelers<br />
79<br />
origin was <strong>No</strong>rway. Immigrants from the <strong>Indian</strong> and dermatitis (Parija, 1996).<br />
subcontinent including India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka<br />
TPE is commonly found in the people living in the<br />
constituted 26% of all imported cases. Some of the<br />
tropics, especially those in the Southeast Asia, India,<br />
travelers developed falciparum malaria after visiting<br />
and certain parts of China and Africa. This condition is<br />
sub-Saharan Africa. <strong>The</strong> study emphasized on the<br />
increasingly seen in the developed countries due to the<br />
need to avoid exposure to mosquitoes while in<br />
increased frequency of worldwide travel and the<br />
endemic areas. Mefloquine was recommended as<br />
migration between continents. <strong>The</strong> disease is more<br />
prophylaxis to the majority of travelers visiting<br />
likely to occur in non-immune travelers to endemic<br />
regions with chloroquine-resistant malaria (BIystad,<br />
regions. TPE presents as paroxysmal fever, cough,<br />
2000).<br />
wheezing and dyspnea and is clinically confused with<br />
In a study from Calcutta, India, a group of 452 subjects that of bronchial asthma. Diagnosis of the condition in<br />
traveling to the <strong>Indian</strong> subcontinent from other the laboratory is made by demonstration of high titers<br />
countries were interviewed <strong>for</strong> compliance of of antifilarial antibodies, increased serum total<br />
chemoprophylactic drugs by travelers while visiting lgE>1,000 U/ml, and a positive response to<br />
India (Chatteriee, 1999). This study was carried out by diethylcarbamazine (DEC) (6-12 mg/kg body weight<br />
directly administered questionnaire at two selected <strong>for</strong> 21 days). Characteristically, microfilariae will be<br />
locations in Calcutta during October 1992. Full absent in the peripheral blood smear .<strong>The</strong> condition if<br />
compliance of chemoprophylactic drugs was defined left untreated may lead to chronic bronchitis,<br />
as the uninterrupted use of drugs, as per the World pulmonary fibrosis or chronic respiratory failure (Ong<br />
Health Organization (WHO) schedule, during travel and Doyle, 1998). In Switzerland, TPE has been<br />
up to the date of interview. In this study, it was found reported to occur in persons who have resided in the<br />
out that female, first time visitors and long-term countries of South East Asia endemic <strong>for</strong> lymphatic<br />
travelers were less compliant. <strong>The</strong> reasons <strong>for</strong> non- filariasis (Sturchler et al, 1978).<br />
compliance in the study were stated to the inadequacy<br />
Leishmaniasis affects 350 million people in 88<br />
in pre-travel advice, discontinuation due to side<br />
countries around the wortd (Martinez, 2000). It is a<br />
effects due to drugs, and non-adherence to advice. Past<br />
vector borne disease transmitted by sandflies (e.g.<br />
travel experience, concern <strong>for</strong> side effects, perceived<br />
Phlebotomus argentipes) to man. <strong>The</strong> disease may<br />
uselessness and confusion arising from alternative<br />
manifest either as visceral, cutaneous or mucoregimens<br />
were also found to have influenced the<br />
cutaneous leishmaniasis. <strong>The</strong> visceral <strong>for</strong>m of the<br />
decision making among travelers (Chatterjee, 1999).<br />
disease, also known as kala-azar, caused by<br />
Filarial nematodes are metazoan parasites, which are Leishmania donovani presents as irregular fever,<br />
residents of the lymphatic system, connective tissue, hepato-splenomegaly, anaemia, lymphadenopathy<br />
and body cavities like the peritoneal cavity. <strong>The</strong>se and hyper gamma globulinaemia. Cutaneous<br />
parasites are cosmopolitan in distribution and found leishmaniasis or oriental sore is caused by L. tropica<br />
all over the world. Different species of filarial and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is caused by L<br />
nematodes predominate in different geographical braziliensis or L mexicana complex .<strong>The</strong> visceral<br />
locations. In the present article focus has been given leishmaniasis (VL) is distributed in Ethiopia, Sudan,<br />
on the lymphatic filariasis, which is found, in and Kenya and in the <strong>Indian</strong> subcontinent, including<br />
around the <strong>Indian</strong> subcontinent.. Lymphatic filariasis Nepal. VL is considered as a differential diagnoses<br />
caused by Wuchereria bancrofti is found in 90 million when a patient returning from endemic regions with<br />
people all over the world mostly affecting human clinical presentations stated earlier. Because of the<br />
populations in Tropical Africa, South America, India long incubation time, VL may be encountered also in<br />
and Southern China, whereas rest of lymphatic travelers who had lived in endemic regions. In<br />
filariasis is caused by Brugia malayi. Hypersensitivity addition, the diagnosis of VL should also be<br />
reaction of the host to microfilarial antigen can considered in immunocompromized individuals. A<br />
manifest as occult filariasis, which can take the <strong>for</strong>m review shows that in the last 50 years, a total of 8 cases<br />
of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE), arthritis, of imported VL from East Africa, Croatia, and