title: Comparison ofS. stercoralisSerology Performed on Dried Blood Spots and on Conventional Serum Samples.
abstract: Background:Dried blood spots (DBS) are used for epidemiological surveys on infectious diseases in settings where limited resources are available. In fact, DBS can help to overcome logistic difficulties for the collection, transport and storage of biological specimens.Objective:To evaluate the accuracy ofStrongyloides stercoralisserology performed on DBS.Methods:A survey was proposed to children attending a school in the village of Borbon, Ecuador, and to their parents/guardians. Each participant gave consent to the collection of both serum and DBS specimens. DBS absorbed on filter papers were analyzed with a commercially available ELISA test forS. stercoralisantibodies, as well as with standard serology. The agreement between the two methods was assessed through the Cohen's kappa coefficient.Results:The study sample was composed of 174 children and 61 adults, for a total of 235 serum and 235 DBS samples. The serology was positive in 31/235 (13%) serum samples, and in 27/235 (11%) DBS: 4 samples resulted discordant (positive at standard serology). Cohen's kappa coefficient was 0.921 (95% CI 0.845 - 0.998), indicating a high rate of concordance.Conclusion:DBS are suitable for in field-surveys requiring serological testing forS. stercoralis.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore Hospital Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formenti
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore Hospital Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buonfrate
authors.affiliation: Centro de Epidemiología Comunitaria y Medicina Tropical Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prandi
authors.affiliation: Centro de Epidemiología Comunitaria y Medicina Tropical Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marquez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Epidemiología Comunitaria y Medicina Tropical Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Cintia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caicedo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore Hospital Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Angel G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Guevara
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Yosselin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vicuña
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Clinico Centro de Salud Madre Anastasia Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Francisco R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Huerlo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore Hospital Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perandin
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore Hospital Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Zeno
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bisoffi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore HospitalVerona, Italy; Centro de Epidemiología Comunitaria y Medicina TropicalEsmeraldas, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anselmi
keywords: Strongyloides stercoralis; diagnosis; dried blood spot; prevalence; serology; strongyloidiasis