title: Improved Detection ofStrongyloides stercoralisin Modified Agar Plate Cultures.
abstract: AbstractA modification of Koga agar plate culture was performed, consisting of a 2 × 2-cm cellophane paper centered on the agar plate to prevent bacterial contamination of the agar and daily dish examinations (days 2-5). Between January 2000 and July 2005, we examined 1,708 infection-suspected patients, of which 147 (8.6%) harboredS. stercoralis. Single modified agar plate cultures exhibited superior sensitivity (93.2%), compared with different three-sample screening methods (sensitivity-Baermann: 76.6%, formalin-ethyl acetate: 22%, and direct smear: 15.3%). Agar plate cultures stand out as helpful alternatives for improved detection and therapy monitoring in poor countries and endemic areas. Combined with Baermann methods, they provide increased probability forS. stercoralisdetection.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina "José María Vargas," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Leonor A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pocaterra
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitosis Intestinales, Escuela de Medicina "José María Vargas," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina "José María Vargas," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Rosaura
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peñaranda
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitosis Intestinales, Escuela de Medicina "José María Vargas," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Elsy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina "José María Vargas," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Gladymar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pérez-Chacón
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina "José María Vargas," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernán
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina "José María Vargas," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Certad
authors.affiliation: Medicina Interna-Hematología, Centro Médico de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina "José María Vargas," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Núñez
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000362:Agar