title: Diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in an Amazonic community of Peru using multiple diagnostic techniques.
abstract: An observational descriptive study was conducted in a Shipibo-Conibo/Ese'Eja community of the rainforest in Peru to compare the Kato-Katz method and the spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique (SSTT) for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites as well as to report the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in this area. A total of 73 stool samples were collected and analysed by several parasitological techniques, including Kato-Katz, SSTT, modified Baermann technique (MBT), agar plate culture, Harada-Mori culture and the direct smear examination. Kato-Katz and SSTT had the same rate of detection for Ascaris lumbricoides (5%), Trichuris trichiura (5%), hookworm (14%) and Hymenolepis nana (26%). The detection rate for Strongyloides stercoralis larvae was 16% by SSTT and 0% by Kato-Katz, but 18% by agar plate culture and 16% by MBT. The SSTT also had the advantage of detecting multiple intestinal protozoa such as Blastocystis hominis (40%), Giardia intestinalis (29%) and Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (16%). The most common intestinal parasites found in this community were B. hominis, G. intestinalis, H. nana, S. stercoralis and hookworm. In conclusion, the SSTT is not inferior to Kato-Katz for the diagnosis of common STH infections but is largely superior for detecting intestinal protozoa and S. stercoralis larvae.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. jorge.d.machicadorivero@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Jorge D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Machicado
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tello
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canales
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotuzzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000723:Ancylostomatoidea / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D048189:Hymenolepis nana / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000379:methods*; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012987:Soil