title: Efficacy of stool examination for detection of Strongyloides infection.
abstract: To determine the efficacy of stool examination for detection of Strongyloides infection, 1,350 stool samples collected in Japan, Brazil, and Thailand were examined by four different methods (direct fecal smear, formalin-ether concentration. Harada-Mori filter paper culture, and agar plate culture). The newly developed agar plate culture method was highly effective; more than 96% of the positive cases were diagnosed by this method. The coprologic examination, however, was not sensitive enough for detecting chronic infections because more than 40% of the positive cases were overlooked even when persons with proven Strongyloides infection were re-examined several months later without intervening treatment. Therefore, it is essential to examine stool samples repeatedly to achieve a correct diagnosis, and even so, it is important to note that a negative result does not necessarily indicate the unequivocal absence of the infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiroma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013321:Strongyloides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology