The laboratory diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis

Matthew R Watts; Gemma Robertson; Richard S Bradbury

doi:10.1071/MA16003

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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The laboratory diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis

Matthew R Watts ^A ^* , Gemma Robertson ^B ^* and Richard S Bradbury ^C ^D

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pathology West – ICMPR, and Marie Bashir Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia, Tel: +61 2 9845 6255, Email: matthew.watts@health.nsw.gov.au

^B Melbourne Pathology, Collingwood and James Cook University, Tel: +61 3 9287 7700, Email: gemmajrobertson@gmail.com

^C School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Qld, Australia

^D Corresponding author. Email: r.bradbury@cqu.edu.au

Microbiology Australia 37(1) 4-9 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA16003
Published: 12 February 2016

Abstract

It is estimated that over 30million people worldwide are infected by the nematode, Strongyloides stercoralis¹. It is endemic in sub-tropical and tropical parts of Australia, with high rates of infection documented in some indigenous communities². Due to the potential for chronic autoinfection, that may persist for decades, migration leads to the presence of the infection in non-endemic areas¹. Transmission to humans is generally through the penetration of larvae through the skin, following contact with faecally contaminated soil¹. Disease severity ranges from asymptomatic chronic carriage to an overwhelming illness, where large numbers spread throughout the body, usually triggered by immunosuppression¹.

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