Last data update: May 13, 2024. (Total: 46773 publications since 2009)
Records 1-5 (of 5 Records) |
Query Trace: Starr MC[original query] |
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Neglected parasitic infections in the United States: Chagas disease
Montgomery SP , Starr MC , Cantey PT , Edwards MS , Meymandi SK . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014 90 (5) 814-8 Chagas disease, which is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, can lead to severe cardiac and gastrointestinal disease. Most persons acquire this infection through contact with vector bugs carrying T. cruzi in endemic areas of Latin America. Infection can also be acquired by congenital, transfusion, transplantation, and foodborne transmission. Although an estimated 300,000 persons with Chagas disease live in the United States, little is known about the burden of chagasic heart disease. It is not known how often congenital or vector-borne transmission of T. cruzi occurs in the United States, although it is known that infected mothers and infected vector bugs are found in this country. Better diagnostic tests and treatment drugs are needed to improve patient care, and research is needed to define transmission risks and develop strategies to prevent new infections and reduce the burden of disease. |
Neglected parasitic infections in the United States: cysticercosis
Cantey PT , Coyle CM , Sorvillo FJ , Wilkins PP , Starr MC , Nash TE . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014 90 (5) 805-9 Cysticercosis is a potentially fatal and preventable neglected parasitic infection caused by the larval form of Taenia solium. Patients with symptomatic disease usually have signs and symptoms of neurocysticercosis, which commonly manifest as seizures or increased intracranial pressure. Although there are many persons living in the United States who emigrated from highly disease-endemic countries and there are foci of autochthonous transmission of the parasite in the United States, little is known about burden and epidemiology of the disease in this country. In addition, despite advances in the diagnosis and management of neurocysticercosis, there remain many unanswered questions. Improving our understanding and management of neurocysticercosis in the United States will require improved surveillance or focused prospective studies in appropriate areas and allocation of resources towards answering some of the key questions discussed in this report. |
Neglected parasitic infections in the United States: trichomoniasis
Secor WE , Meites E , Starr MC , Workowski KA . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014 90 (5) 800-4 Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common human parasitic infections in the United States, as well as the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection. However, it has long received much less consideration than other parasitic and sexually transmitted diseases. Much of this inattention can be attributed to a poor understanding of the public health impact of trichomoniasis. Increasing recognition of the sequelae of infection, including increased risk of infection with human immunodeficiency virus and adverse outcomes of pregnancy, has led to increased interest in T. vaginalis. Recent innovations include development of diagnostic tests that could improve detection of the parasite. A number of important questions, such as the epidemiology among men and women, the true public health burden of symptomatic and asymptomatic T. vaginalis infections, and whether current treatments will be adequate to reduce the substantial health disparities and costs associated with trichomoniasis, need consideration to remedy neglect of this important disease. |
Ocular toxocariasis: epidemiologic, anatomic, and therapeutic variations based on a survey of ophthalmic subspecialists
Woodhall D , Starr MC , Montgomery SP , Jones JL , Lum F , Read RW , Moorthy RS . Ophthalmology 2012 119 (6) 1211-7 PURPOSE: To assess the current burden of ocular toxocariasis (OT) and to gain knowledge regarding the diagnostic and treatment practices used in the ophthalmologic community in the United States. DESIGN: Web-based, cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: Subspecialty ophthalmologists who are currently practicing in the United States. METHODS: An electronic survey was sent to 3020 ophthalmologic subspecialists belonging to the American Uveitis Society (AUS), the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), or the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) to capture demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment data on patients with OT seen in their practices between September 2009 and September 2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The demographic, epidemiologic, and clinical characteristics of each reported patient with OT. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients with OT were reported by 559 respondents (19%). The median patient age was 11.5 years (range, 1-66 years). Seventy-two patients (45%) with OT lived in the Southern region of the United States. Thirty-one (69%) of 45 patients with OT owned a dog or cat. Vision loss was reported in 46 (85%) of 54 patients with OT; 32 (71%) of 45 patients had permanent vision loss, 13 patients (29%) had temporary vision loss, and duration of vision loss was unreported for 1 patient. Of the 32 patients with OT with permanent vision loss, 30 (94%) had a subretinal granulomatous mass/scar, peripheral granuloma with traction bands, or posterior pole granuloma noted on ophthalmologic examination. Subretinal granulomatous mass/scar, vitritis, and scotoma were the most common ophthalmologic signs found on examination of patients with OT. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular toxocariasis continues to occur in the United States, where it affects mainly children and causes permanent vision loss in many patients. Healthcare professionals should counsel patients and their family members about prevention strategies in an effort to decrease infection rates and morbidity due to Toxocara. Further improvement of diagnostic and treatment tools is needed to assist ophthalmologists in treating patients with OT. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. |
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis in the United States: a systematic review--1940-2010
Starr MC , Montgomery SP . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011 85 (4) 680-4 The epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminth infections (hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Strongyloides stercoralis) in the United States is poorly understood. To gain understanding of the status of disease, a systematic review was performed to assess the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the United States. Of all studies reviewed, 14 were designated as high-quality. High-quality studies were published from 1942 to 1982 and showed that infection was prevalent throughout the southern United States and Appalachia as recently as 1982, finding that hookworm (19.6%), T. trichiura (55.2%), A. lumbricoides (49.4%), and S. stercoralis (3.8%) affected significant percentages of the population. However, because the most recent high-quality studies were published over 25 years ago, the literature does not provide sufficient data to assess current endemic transmission. Because the status of disease remains unclear, there is a need for additional studies to determine if soil-transmitted helminths remain endemic in the United States. |
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