# name
Use of serology in a systematic screening programme for strongyloidiasis in an immigrant population

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Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the results of a systematic serological
screening programme for strongyloidiasis.
Methods: Aprospective serological screeningprogramme for strongyloidiasis wasperformedbetween2009
and2014 for allimmigrantpatients attending theTropicalMedicineUnit. Three formalin-etherconcentrated
stool samples and an ELISA for anti-Strongyloides stercoralis antibodies were used as screening tools.
Results: Of 659 patients screened, 79 (12%) were positive for S. stercoralis regardless of the diagnostic
method used. The prevalence of infection was 42.9% in East African patients, 16.3% in Central African
patients,10.9% in those fromSouthAmerica, and 10% in the case ofWestAfrica. Univariate analysis showed
thatinfection by S. stercoralis was significantly more frequentinpatients from CentralAfrica (p = 0.026; OR
1.72, 95% CI 1.03–2.85) and East Africa (p<0.001; OR 5.88, 95% CI 1.75–19.32). Taking West Africa as the
reference (as the area of lowest prevalence among the positive prevalence areas), the statistical analysis
showed that the risk of infection was higher in East Africa (p = 0.001; OR 6.750, 95% CI 2.127–21.423) and
Central Africa (p = 0.065; OR 1.747, 95% CI 0.965–3.163).
Conclusions: Due to the potential complications of strongyloidiasis infection, we recommend that
immigrantpatients fromdevelopingcountriesbe routinelyscreenedfor S. stercoralis, especiallythose from
East Africa. A serological test is a highly appropriate screening tool.

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International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2019, vol. 88, p. 60-64

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Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Use of serology in a systematic screening programme for strongyloidiasis in an immigrant population