Are Medical Laboratories Ready for the Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases?

Economic instability, destabilisation with armed conflagration, religious and ethnic conflicts are the most important driving factors for migrations towards Europe. Mediterranean countries are important route for refugees who emigrate from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal diseases carried by these refugees constitute a significant health risk in Mediterranean countries. Parasitic diseases, such as intestinal parasites, pediculosis, scabies, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, malaria and leishmaniasis, which may reach the Mediterranean region trough migrations, were briefly reviewed and the precautions to be taken were mentioned. It is of utmost importance that laboratories in the Mediterranean countries pay particular attention to parasitic infections, especially by using experienced staff and appropriate diagnostic methods in combating such infections. The diagnosis and screening of all these infections among the refugees can be done by some basic parasitological laboratory methods such as direct methods for stool samples (direct wet smear, concentration methods, permanent stains, special stains), methods for blood samples (thick and thin blood films, blood concentration procedures), direct methods for urogenital specimens, serological methods, molecular methods and rapid diagnosis kits. These methods can be easily learned by laboratory employees. We suggest that migratory related infections study group should be established in Mediterranean countries, which should inform each other by sharing their findings and observations with officials in congresses and symposiums, and should cooperate on this issue and prepare training and workshop programs and health education programs in these countries should be updated about the health and risk factors of refugees.