title: Prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Latin America: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: Strongyloides stercoralis is rarely recognized as a major public health issue, probably because its burden is largely underestimated. We reviewed the literature (both PubMed and 'grey' literature) about the prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Latin America, an area of presumable high endemicity. There were finally 88 papers involved in the analysis, covering the period between 1981 and 2011. Studies were heterogeneous in several aspects, such as the populations screened and the diagnostic methods used. Most of the studies relied on direct coproparasitological examination, which has low sensitivity for the detection of S. stercoralis larvae. The following countries presented areas of high prevalence (>20%): Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and Brazil. Globally, for most of the included countries it was not possible to define reliable data because of paucity and/or inadequacy of studies. S. stercoralis requires specific diagnostic methods for its detection; therefore, surveys should be specifically designed in order to avoid underestimation of the infection.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases (CTD),Sacro Cuore Hospital,Negrar, Verona,Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buonfrate
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt,Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia,Lima,Peru.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases (CTD),Sacro Cuore Hospital,Negrar, Verona,Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angheben
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB,Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona),Barcelona,Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Requena-Mendez
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB,Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona),Barcelona,Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases (CTD),Sacro Cuore Hospital,Negrar, Verona,Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases (CTD),Sacro Cuore Hospital,Negrar, Verona,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albonico
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt,Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia,Lima,Peru.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotuzzo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases (CTD),Sacro Cuore Hospital,Negrar, Verona,Italy.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bisoffi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Latin America; Strongyloides stercoralis; prevalence; review