title: Strongyloides stercoralis: a field-based survey of mothers and their preschool children using ELISA, Baermann and Koga plate methods reveals low endemicity in western Uganda.
abstract: To ascertain the current status of strongyloidiasis in mothers and their preschool children, a field-based survey was conducted in western Uganda using a combination of diagnostic methods: ELISA, Baermann concentration and Koga agar plate. The prevalence of other soil-transmitted helminthiasis and intestinal schistosomiasis were also determined. In total, 158 mothers and 143 children were examined from five villages within Kabale, Hoima and Masindi districts. In mothers and children, the general prevalence of strongyloidiasis inferred by ELISA was approximately 4% and approximately 2%, respectively. Using the Baermann concentration method, two parasitologically proven cases were encountered in an unrelated mother and child, both of whom were sero-negative for strongyloidiasis. No infections were detected by Koga agar plate method. The general level of awareness of strongyloidiasis was very poor ( < 5%) in comparison to schistosomiasis (51%) and ascariasis (36%). Strongyloidiasis is presently at insufficient levels to justify inclusion within a community treatment programme targeting maternal and child health. Better epidemiological screening is needed, however, especially identifying infections in HIV-positive women of childbearing age. In the rural clinic setting, further use of the Baermann concentration method would appear to be the most immediate and pragmatic option for disease diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, UK. r.stothard@nhm.ac.uk
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stothard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pleasant
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oguttu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adriko
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galimaka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruggiana
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kazibwe
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Kabatereine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003470:Culture Media; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012423:Rural Health; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media