title: Should we look for Strongyloides stercoralis in foreign-born HIV-infected persons?
abstract: The objective was to evaluate the implementation of a systematic Strongyloides stercoralis screening programme in HIV infected immigrants attending an HIV Unit in Spain. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to assess the presence of Strongyloides IgG. Patients with a positive serology were treated with ivermectin; serologic follow-up testing was performed. 237 patients were screened (65.4 % men). Origin: 64.1 % came from Latin America, 16.5 % from Sub-Saharan Africa, 9.7 % from the Caribbean, 9.7 % from other areas. Strongyloides stercolaris IgG was positive in 13 cases (5.5 %). In the multivariate analysis, factors associated with a positive Strongyloides serology were illiteracy (OR: 23.31; p = 0.009) and eosinophilia (OR: 15.44; p < 0.0001). Nine of the 13 patients positive for S. stercoralis IgG and treated with ivermectin had a follow up serologic test: 77.8 % achieved a serologic response (55.5 % seroreversion). Screening of HIV-positive immigrants may be desirable, at least in those with higher risk of hyperinfection syndrome. Serologic testing seems a useful tool in both diagnosis and follow-up of these patients.
authors.affiliation: HIV Unit, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (i + 12), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. jaravih12@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jara
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llenas-García
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiorante
authors.forename: Efrén
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salto
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maseda
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matarranz
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernando
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pulido
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D000818:Animals; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007559:Ivermectin