title: Increased detection rate of Strongyloides stercoralis by repeated stool examinations using the agar plate culture method.
abstract: To clarify the efficacy of repeated stool examinations by the agar plate culture method for the detection of Strongyloides stercoralis infection, 4,071 stool samples collected from 2,406 patients > 50 years of age in Ryukyu University Hospital were examined. The cumulative detection rate of S. stercoralis infection was 4.7% (112/2,406). At the first, second, third, and beyond fourth examinations, the detection rates were 3.6% (86/2,406), 1.5% (12/786), 2.6% (10/392), and 2.0% (4/198), respectively. From these results, the cumulative detection rate was estimated to be 7.4% when three stool samples were examined for all patients. Our study showed that repeated stool examinations increase the sensitivity of detection of S. stercoralis infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. h400314@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Nagisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hokama
authors.forename: Fukunori
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.forename: Nobuhisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000362:Agar