Taenia solium seroprevalence in immigrant and foreigner adopted children in Florence, Italy

Introduction: Epidemiological and clinical impact of neurocysticercosis in Europe is poorly known and probably underestimated. According to published data of the Italian ICD-9-CM reporting system, cysticercosis has been the main diagnosis at discharge in 265 cases from 1999 to 2005 (26% in pediatric patients). Immigrants from low resources countries are the most affected and adopted children are a vulnerable part of this population. Methods and materials: From 2001 to 2010, all children evaluated at the Center for Immigrant and Foreigner Adopted Children, Meyer University Hospital, Florence Italy, were tested for seroreactivity to Taenia solium utilising EITB-test (Enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot) performed in the laboratory of the Tuscany Reference Centre for Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Florence Italy. Results: A total of 1090 children were screened. The mean age of screened children was 5±3 years. According to the continent of provenience, 371 (34%) children were Asian, 340 (31,2%) Latin American, 248 (22,8%) African, 12 (1,1%) European. The most frequent nationalities were Ethiopian 156 (14,3%), Indian 129 (11,8%), Brazilian 99 (9,1%) and Colombian 95 (8,7%). 1079 tests were negative and 11 (1%) positive. Positive results were found in 6 Latin American children (2 brothers from Colombia, and one child each from Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Costa Rica), 3 Ethiopian children, one unspecified African child and one Indian child. Table 1 summarize clinical information concerning the 11 positive children. Positive children resulted to be elder than negative ones, with a mean age of 8±3,7 vs 5±3,3 years (p=0,045). Moreover we noted that while the number of tested patients globally increased through the years, 800 (73,4%) tests have been performed between 2006 and 2010, the number of patient with positive result decreased (only 4 positive children between 2006-2010). It can be assumed that, this result is due to the increasing improvement of hygienic conditions in the countries of origin. Neither association with nationality nor continent provenience were statistically significant. Table 2 summarize statistical analysis. Conclusions: Although these data are not accompanied by cost-benefit analysis of a screening program based on detection of anti-T. solium antibodies, immigrant and foreigner adopted children from all continents resulted at risk of neurocysticercosis.