title: Discordances Between Serology and Culture for Strongyloides in an Ethiopian Adopted Child With Multiple Parasitic Infections: A Case Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  infectious diseases screening of international adoptees is complex because of the concurrence of different pathogens in a child at same time. We describe an international adopted child born at Ethiopia infected by 5 different pathogens (Hymenolepis nana, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Trichuris trichiura), 2 of them S. stercoralis and E. histolytica with a capacity to develop severe clinical complications if not detected promptly with appropriate diagnosis tests.Concerns of the patient: according to the screening protocol a stool sample is always processed for culture addressed to find out protozoan and helminthic pathogens but not specifically for S. stercoralis. Only, when eosinophilia is detected 3 serial stool samples are collected to rule out intestinal parasitic infection including S. stercoralis.
  
  
  METHODS
  in our case, S. stercoralis would not have been detected if we had followed the protocol because eosinophilia was absent and its specific serology was negative. Fortunately, the initial inclusion of the feces charcoal culture for S. stercoralis allowed us to detect this infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  discordances between direct methods such as culture and indirect as serology or antigen test forces us to be very cautious before ruling out S. stercoralis or E. histolytica infection, respectively. Also, if a child from tropical areas has persistent symptoms (such as diarrhea or fever) that have not been treated we have to rule out other infections that have not been detected yet.Main lessons: The introduction of different sequencing tests and the insistence to find out pathogens such as S. stercoralis or E. histolytica was determinant to be able to cure this symptomatic child and to prevent potential severe clinical forms in case of immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: From the Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Unit of International Health-Tuberculosis Drassanes-Vall Hebron, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (AS-A); Unit of International Health Drassanes-Vall Hebron, Programa Especial de Malalties Infeccioses (PROSICS), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (FZ, ER, IC); and Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona, Spain (ES, ME).
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soriano-Arandes
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sulleiro
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zarzuela
authors.forename: Edurne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Clavería
authors.forename: Mateu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espasa
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption / Q000208:ethnology; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000032:analysis*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000208:ethnology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D016829:Giardia lamblia; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000469:parasitology; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth