Seroepidemiology of strongyloidiasis in the Peruvian Amazon

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Jan;74(1):97-102.

Abstract

A stool and serosurvey for Strongyloides stercoralis was conducted in a community in the Peruvian Amazon region. Strongyloidiasis stercoralis was identified in the stool of 69 (8.7%) of 792 participants. Six hundred nine sera were tested using by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 94%; 442 (72%) were positive. In multivariable logistic regression models, having S. stercoralis in stool was associated with hookworm in the same specimen (odds ratio [OR] = 4.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.02-9.79), occasionally or never wearing shoes (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.10-3.27), and increasing age (OR = 1.012 for each one-year increase, 95% CI = 1.00-1.03). Similarly, occasionally or never wearing shoes (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.01-2.37) and increasing age (OR = 1.04 for each one-year increase, 95% CI = 1.02-1.06) were associated with an increased risk of a positive S. stercoralis ELISA result. The ELISA had a negative predictive value of 98% and is an excellent screening test for strongyloidiasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross Reactions
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Filariasis / diagnosis
  • Hookworm Infections / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Shoes
  • Strongyloides stercoralis / immunology
  • Strongyloides stercoralis / isolation & purification
  • Strongyloidiasis / blood
  • Strongyloidiasis / epidemiology*
  • Strongyloidiasis / immunology