Strongyloidiasis: a review and update by case example.
A 77-year-old female immigrant from South America presented with epigastric pain, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, malabsorption, and acid reflux disorder. A gastroduodenoscopy, performed to assess for peptic ulcer disease, revealed parasitic larvae in the duodenal mucosa which were subsequently identified as Strongyloides stercoralis rhabditiform larvae. Anti-helminthic therapy was initiated to resolve infection.


OBJECTIVE
Review the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of strongyloidiasis; alert laboratory professionals to the importance of early detection of Strongyloides stercoralis in specimens from immigrants at risk and immunodeficient patients to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences (Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Immunology/Immu- nohematology), Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA. Katherine.Greiner@Marist.Edu
Katherine
K
Greiner
Joseph
J
Bettencourt
Carole
C
Semolic
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D013321:Strongyloides / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
D000871:Anthelmintics