Browsing by Autor "Fabio Macchioni"

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Additional file 1 of Neglected parasitic diseases from a one-health perspective: American trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis in dogs and humans in the Bolivian Chaco
(Figshare (United Kingdom), 2025) Fabio Macchioni; Ettore Napoli; Habimael Castrillo Tarraga; Giovanni De Benedetto; Everardo Vega; Adriana Augello; William Medina Ustarez; Maribel Mendoza Moreno; Patricia Rojas Gonzales; Francesco Cosmi
Additional file 1.
Additional file 1 of Neglected parasitic diseases from a one-health perspective: American trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis in dogs and humans in the Bolivian Chaco
(Figshare (United Kingdom), 2025) Fabio Macchioni; Ettore Napoli; Habimael Castrillo Tarraga; Giovanni De Benedetto; Everardo Vega; Adriana Augello; William Medina Ustarez; Maribel Mendoza Moreno; Patricia Rojas Gonzales; Francesco Cosmi
Additional file 1.
Canine Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the Bolivian Chaco
(BioMed Central, 2018) Simona Gabrielli; Michele Spinicci; Fabio Macchioni; David Rojo; Valentina Totino; Patricia Rojas; Mimmo Roselli; Herlan Gamboa; Gabriella Cancrini; Alessandro Bartoloni
A cross-sectional study on Trypanosoma cruzi was carried out in 2013 to evaluate the role of dogs as possible source of infection for humans in two rural communities of the highly endemic Bolivian Chaco (Bartolo, Chuquisaca Department, n = 57 dogs; and Ivamirapinta, Santa Cruz Department, n = 48 dogs). Giemsa-stained thick and thin smears, rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) (Chagas Quick test, Cypress Diagnostic, Belgium) and polymerase chain reaction for T. cruzi on dried blood spots were performed. All smears proved negative by microscopic examination, whereas 23/103 (22%) were positive by ICT and 5/105 (5%) blood samples contained T. cruzi DNA, evidencing the potential role of dogs in the domestic transmission of the parasite.
Cross-sectional study on intestinal parasite infections in different ecological zones of the Department of La Paz, Bolivia
(Elsevier BV, 2021) Jorge Aruni Chura; Fabio Macchioni; Federica Furzi; Victor Balboa; Érika Mercado; José M. Gómez; Patricia Rojas Gonzales; Veronica Poma; Armando Loup; Mimmo Roselli
Effect of a health education intervention on intestinal parasitic infections in Bolivian children
(Oxford University Press, 2020) Vieri Lastrucci; Michele Spinicci; Fabio Macchioni; Simona Gabrielli; Ana Liz Villagrán; H Gamboa; Christine Halleux; Piero Olliaro; M J Caldès; Alessandro Bartoloni
Abstract Backgrounds Intestinal parasitic infections (IPI) are a major health issue for children of low- and middle-income countries. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices are crucial for preventing IPI. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based health education intervention on handwashing behavior and IPI prevalence in children Methods This is a randomized intervention trial in 8 primary schools in rural communities over the course of 3 school years; preliminary results from the first two years of the trial are here presented. Schools were randomly selected and assigned in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or control (no intervention) groups. For each school year, the intervention included 14 school-based educational sessions and 2 skit events, involving children aged 8-12 years. Knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire and handwashing at key events was assessed at the beginning and end of each school year. IPI prevalence was assessed with repeated cross-sectional parasitology surveys 12 months apart, involving a minimum of 50 children for each school Results At baseline, no significant differences between intervention and control schools were present in the proportion of children who washed their hands at key events (7.2% vs 9.3%, p = 0.28), in IPI (79.4% vs 75.3%, p = 0.3) and multiple parasitic infections (MPI) prevalences (47.6 vs. 38.6; p = 0.051). At the end of the second year, the percentage of children who washed their hands at key events was significantly higher in the intervention schools (75.4% vs 12.1%, p &lt; 0.001), and the prevalence of IPI and MPI in the intervention schools were respectively about 25% and 15% lower than in the control schools (respectively, 42.9% vs 67.8%, p &lt; 0.001; 16.1% vs 31.6%, p &lt; 0.001) Conclusions A school-based health education intervention could achieve significant changes in hand-washing behaviors and reduction in the prevalence of IPI in children. The third year survey results are needed to confirm these findings Key messages An health education intervention on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices can reduce the risk of IPI infection in children. An health education intervention on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices could be configured as a sustainable long-term approach to intestinal parasitic infections control in children.
Hymenolepis nana—An Emerging Intestinal Parasite Associated with Anemia in School Children from the Bolivian Chaco
(American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2018) Michele Spinicci; Fabio Macchioni; Simona Gabrielli; David Rojo; Herlan Gamboa; Ana Liz Villagrán; Yolanda Vallejos; Marianne Strohmeyer; Mimmo Roselli; Gabriella Cancrini
Tropical anemia can have multiple causes, whether socioeconomic, dietary, or infectious. In the Bolivian Chaco, soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH), malaria, and Chagas disease are potential infectious causes of anemia among school-aged children (SAC). Following years of preventive chemotherapy with mebendazole, the prevalence of STH among SAC living in that area is now negligible, whereas protozoan infections are still highly prevalent (81%); Hymenolepis nana is the most frequent intestinal helminth (∼13%). We present results of hemoglobin (Hb) assessment and the association between parasitic infections and Hb levels of that SAC population. Overall, 511 SAC (girls:boys ratio 1:1, mean age 9.4 years [95% confidence interval {CI}: 9.3-9.5]) had Hb levels measured by using a point of care testing (HemoCue® Hb 301 System; HemoCue, Angelhome, Sweden). The prevalence of anemia was 23% (117/511), with mean and median Hb level = 12.2 g/dL (95% CI: 12.1-12.3; range 9.2-15.4 g/dL). By multivariate analysis, H. nana infection was associated with an increased risk of anemia (odds ratio 2.9, 95% CI: 1.5-5.7, P = 0.002). Two samples (0.5%) were positive for Trypanosoma cruzi and none for Plasmodium spp. by polymerase chain reaction of the 439 children tested. Anemia is still a concern among SAC living in the Bolivian Chaco. Our findings call for a greater attention to fecal-oral emerging pathogens, such as H. nana, and highlight the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene improvements for disadvantaged population such as those living in the Bolivian Chaco.
Intestinal parasitic infections and associated epidemiological drivers in two rural communities of the Bolivian Chaco
(Open Learning on Enteric Pathogens, 2016) Fabio Macchioni; Higinio Segundo; Valentina Totino; Simona Gabrielli; Patricia Rojas; Mimmo Roselli; Grover Adolfo Paredes; Mario Masana; Alessandro Bartoloni; Gabriella Cancrini
These results highlight the need for the promotion of access to clean water, improved sanitation and better hygiene, thus reducing the frequency of preventive chemotherapy for STHs while continuing to monitor the population for possible recrudescence.
Long-Standing International Cooperation in Parasitology Research: A Summary of 35 Years of Activities in the Bolivian Chaco
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022) Simona Gabrielli; Fabio Macchioni; Michele Spinicci; Marianne Strohmeyer; Mimmo Roselli; Alessandra Nicoletti; Calogero Edoardo Cicero; Veronica Poma; David Rojo; Yunni Lara
The Bolivian Chaco is a semiarid region with a low population density, situated in the southeast part of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Here, despite the improvements of the last 15 years, poverty remains high in rural areas, where social vulnerability is widespread. The Guaraní ethnic group often lives in isolated communities with a low standard of hygiene and sanitation. This epidemiological scenario favors the spread of transmissible diseases, including several parasitic infections belonging to the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) group. In this area, a long-standing research activity, built upon the synergism between local and foreign institutions, has been established since the late 1980s and helps to fill in the knowledge gap about the epidemiology dynamics of soil-transmitted helminths, vector-borne parasites, and other parasitic diseases. A 35-year history of cooperation programs in parasitology research has contributed to informing local health authorities of the NTD burden in the Bolivian Chaco and, ultimately, supports local healthcare providers in the management of parasitic diseases.
Neglected parasitic diseases from a one-health perspective: American trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis in dogs and humans in the Bolivian Chaco
(BioMed Central, 2025) Fabio Macchioni; Ettore Napoli; Habimael Castrillo Tarraga; Giovanni De Benedetto; Everardo Vega; Andrea Augello; William Medina Ustarez; Miguel Guerrero Moreno; Patricia Rojas Gonzales; Francesco Cosmi
These findings highlight the relevance of a One Health approach, as dogs may serve as reservoirs for both parasites, potentially increasing the risk of human transmission. Integrated control measures - including vector management and ongoing surveillance - are essential to reduce transmission and protect public health. Future research should prioritise mapping infection patterns and exploring ecological factors influencing disease dynamics.
Neglected parasitic diseases from a one-health perspective: American trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis in dogs and humans in the Bolivian Chaco
(Figshare (United Kingdom), 2025) Fabio Macchioni; Ettore Napoli; Habimael Castrillo Tarraga; Giovanni De Benedetto; Everardo Vega; Adriana Augello; William Medina Ustarez; Maribel Mendoza Moreno; Patricia Rojas Gonzales; Francesco Cosmi
Abstract Background This study investigates the prevalence of leishmaniasis and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) – two neglected vector-borne diseases – in humans and dogs in the Bolivian Chaco region, where high poverty levels increase population vulnerability. Leishmaniasis, which affects millions globally, is widespread in Bolivia, a country reporting some of the highest rates of cutaneous and mucocutaneous cases in Latin America. Chagas disease is endemic across the region, with an estimated 4.5 million individuals affected. Methods Blood and serum samples were collected from 189 dogs living in rural communities near the cities of Camiri and Villa Montes. Samples were tested using serological assays and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi. Additionally, serum samples from 151 school-aged children from both areas were screened for anti-Leishmania antibodies. Results The seroprevalence of Leishmania in dogs was significantly higher in Villa Montes (46%) compared with Camiri (26%). Moreover, Leishmania DNA was detected by qPCR in 9 out of 125 dogs tested (7.2%). Among children, 13.2% from Villa Montes tested positive for Leishmania antibodies, while no positive cases were found in Camiri. Serological evidence of previous T. cruzi infection was identified in 17.7% of dogs, although all qPCR results for T. cruzi were negative. Conclusions These findings highlight the relevance of a One Health approach, as dogs may serve as reservoirs for both parasites, potentially increasing the risk of human transmission. Integrated control measures – including vector management and ongoing surveillance – are essential to reduce transmission and protect public health. Future research should prioritise mapping infection patterns and exploring ecological factors influencing disease dynamics. Graphical Abstract
Neglected parasitic diseases from a one-health perspective: American trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis in dogs and humans in the Bolivian Chaco
(Figshare (United Kingdom), 2025) Fabio Macchioni; Ettore Napoli; Habimael Castrillo Tarraga; Giovanni De Benedetto; Everardo Vega; Adriana Augello; William Medina Ustarez; Maribel Mendoza Moreno; Patricia Rojas Gonzales; Francesco Cosmi
Abstract Background This study investigates the prevalence of leishmaniasis and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) – two neglected vector-borne diseases – in humans and dogs in the Bolivian Chaco region, where high poverty levels increase population vulnerability. Leishmaniasis, which affects millions globally, is widespread in Bolivia, a country reporting some of the highest rates of cutaneous and mucocutaneous cases in Latin America. Chagas disease is endemic across the region, with an estimated 4.5 million individuals affected. Methods Blood and serum samples were collected from 189 dogs living in rural communities near the cities of Camiri and Villa Montes. Samples were tested using serological assays and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi. Additionally, serum samples from 151 school-aged children from both areas were screened for anti-Leishmania antibodies. Results The seroprevalence of Leishmania in dogs was significantly higher in Villa Montes (46%) compared with Camiri (26%). Moreover, Leishmania DNA was detected by qPCR in 9 out of 125 dogs tested (7.2%). Among children, 13.2% from Villa Montes tested positive for Leishmania antibodies, while no positive cases were found in Camiri. Serological evidence of previous T. cruzi infection was identified in 17.7% of dogs, although all qPCR results for T. cruzi were negative. Conclusions These findings highlight the relevance of a One Health approach, as dogs may serve as reservoirs for both parasites, potentially increasing the risk of human transmission. Integrated control measures – including vector management and ongoing surveillance – are essential to reduce transmission and protect public health. Future research should prioritise mapping infection patterns and exploring ecological factors influencing disease dynamics. Graphical Abstract
Persistence of Trypanosoma cruzi vector-borne transmission among school-age children in the Bolivian Chaco documented by 24-month longitudinal serosurveillance
(Oxford University Press, 2022) Michele Spinicci; Fabio Macchioni; Herlan Gamboa; Veronica Poma; Ana Liz Villagrán; Marianne Strohmeyer; Mimmo Roselli; Roberto Vargas; Alessandro Bartoloni; Simona Gabrielli
Our findings support the persistence of vector-borne T. cruzi transmission in this area, highlighting the need for strengthening multidisciplinary efforts against Chagas disease.
Scaling down of a deworming programme among school‐age children after a thirty‐year successful intervention in the Bolivian Chaco
(Wiley, 2018) Michele Spinicci; Fabio Macchioni; David Rojo; Herlan Gamboa; Ana Liz Villagrán; Yolanda Vallejos; Marianne Strohmeyer; Mimmo Roselli; Simona Gabrielli; Gabriella Cancrini
Our findings support the role of preventive chemotherapy in reducing soil-transmitted helminthiases transmission, as otherwise poor hygienic and health conditions persist in the Bolivian Chaco. A national survey, involving areas from all the ecological zones of Bolivia, is now warranted.
Seroepidemiological trend of strongyloidiasis in the Bolivian Chaco (1987–2013) in the absence of disease‐specific control measures
(Wiley, 2017) Michele Spinicci; Fabio Macchioni; Antonia Mantella; Simona Gabrielli; Mimmo Roselli; David Rojo Mayaregua; Joaquín Monasterio Pinckert; Herlan Gamboa Barahona; Grover Adolfo Paredes; Percy Halkyer
The significant reduction in S. stercoralis seroprevalence in Bolivian Chaco cannot be explained by preventive chemotherapy or improved social-sanitary conditions. As the drop is seen in younger generations, it is consistent with little transmission occurring. However, the risk of transmission still exists, as prevalence is persistently high in older individuals, who present a potential reservoir due to the lifelong nature of S. stercoralis infections.
Seroprevalence of West Nile and dengue virus in the human population of the Bolivian Chaco
(Wiley, 2018) Alessandro Bartoloni; Maria Elena Remoli; Francesca Farchi; Lorenzo Zammarchi; Claudia Fortuna; Eleonora Benedetti; Maria Grazia Ciufolini; Fabio Macchioni; Patricia Rojas; Yunni Lara
To determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) in the human population of the Bolivian Chaco, we tested 256 inhabitants of two rural communities. The seroprevalence, confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test, was 7.8% and 2.7% for DENV and WNV, respectively.
Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the human population of the Bolivian Chaco: four serosurveys over a 26-year period (1987-2013)
(Open Learning on Enteric Pathogens, 2020) Michele Spinicci; Simona Gabrielli; David Rojo; Herlan Gamboa; Fabio Macchioni; Antonia Mantella; Yunni Lara; Ana Liz Villagrán; Mimmo Roselli; Marianne Strohmeyer
T. cruzi transmission is still active and CD remains a concern throughout the Bolivian Chaco. More efforts are needed in order to achieve a sustainable interruption of vector-borne CD transmission in this area.
West Nile Seroprevalence Study in Bolivian Horses, 2011
(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2013) Maurizio Mazzei; Giovanni Savini; Annapia Di Gennaro; Fabio Macchioni; M. C. Prati; Limberg Rojas Guzmàn; Francesco Tolari
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae included in the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex (JEAC). A seroepidemiological study was carried out in 2011 using 160 horse sera collected from different areas of Bolivia to investigate the presence of WNV antibody. A high proportion (59.4%) of the tested sera were positive to a commercially available WNV competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). Sixty-six randomly selected C-ELISA-positive sera were further tested by WNV plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), virus neutralization (VN), and immunoglobulin M (IgM)-WNV ELISA to exclude false-positive results due to possible cross-reactions to other members of the JEAC and to investigate if the horses were recently infected. No WNV IgM was detected in these samples, whereas neutralizing antibodies were found in 21 and 18 samples by PRNT and VN, respectively. In conclusion, a high proportion of the Bolivian horses included in this study reacted serologically against viruses of the JEAC. WNV was partially responsible (31.8%) for these reactions, supporting the conclusion that WNV circulated in Bolivia.