In a screening program, we detected submicroscopic malaria in 8.9% of recent migrants to Spain from sub-Saharan Africa. Hemoglobinopathies and filarial infection occurred more frequently in newly arrived migrants with submicroscopic malaria than in those without. Our findings could justify systematic screening in immigrants and recent travelers from malaria-endemic areas.
Keywords: Africa; Spain; co-infection; filariasis; hemoglobinopathies; malaria; migrants; parasites; screening; sub-Saharan Africa; submicroscopic malaria; vector-borne infections.