Seroprevalence of the Strongyloides stercoralis Infection in Humans from Yungas Rainforest and Gran Chaco Region from Argentina and Bolivia

Abstract

The threadworm, Strongyloides stercoralis, is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. Data on the prevalence and distribution of infection with this parasite species is scarce in many critical regions. We conducted a seroprevalence study of S. stercoralis infection in 13 locations in the Gran Chaco and Yungas regions of Argentina and Bolivia during the period 2010–2016. A total of 2803 human serum samples were analyzed by ELISA-NIE which has a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 95%. Results showed that 551 (19.6%) of those samples were positive. The adjusted prevalence was 20.9%, (95% confidence interval (CI) 19.4–22.4%). The distribution of cases was similar between females and males with an increase of prevalence with age. The prevalence in the different locations ranged from 7.75% in Pampa del Indio to 44.55% in Santa Victoria Este in the triple border between Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay in the Chaco region. Our results show that S. stercoralis is highly prevalent in the Chaco and Yungas regions, which should prompt prospective surveys to confirm our findings and the design and deployment of control measures.

The State of Knowledge on Intestinal Helminths in Free-Roaming Dogs in Southern South America

“…Strongyloidiasis is prevalent in remote socioeconomically disadvantaged communities around the world, and dogs can act as reservoirs of human strongyloidiasis [128]. This parasitosis is registered in the north of Argentina, with similar infection values in both rural and urban populations and an overall seroprevalence of 19.6% [129,130]. In Chile, the seroprevalence is much lower (0.25%) in blood donors from Arica and La Union.…”

Strongyloides stercoralis and Trypanosoma cruzi coinfections in a highly endemic area in Argentina

“…Villages with serological data for only one of the parasites (S. stercoralis or T. cruzi) were not included in this study. This study included 706 individuals from six villages in the province of Salta, in northwestern Argentina, who had a complete serological data for the two parasites obtained from epidemiological surveys [9,17,18]. One village is located in the Yungas ecoregion (Solazuti), three in the Chaco ecoregion (Santa Victoria, Morillo and La Union), and two on the border between the two (Tartagal and Pichanal) (Fig 1).…”

“…S. stercoralis and T. cruzi are endemic in northern Argentina [9,10], along with other STH and Leishmania [11,12]. In this region, there is a high prevalence of the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma infestans, with a prevalence of T. cruzi that can exceed 50% in localized communities [13,14].…”

“…In this region, there is a high prevalence of the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma infestans, with a prevalence of T. cruzi that can exceed 50% in localized communities [13,14]. In addition, northern Argentina has varied prevalence of S. stercoralis ranging from 7% to over 40% [9]. Due to the high prevalence and the long duration of infections by these parasites, coinfection with both is possible.…”

The New Status of Parasitic Diseases in the COVID-19 Pandemic—Risk Factors or Protective Agents?

“…Strongyloidiasis is caused by Strongyloides stercoralis infection; however, diagnosis should be performed with caution. The parasite invasion follows a similar route to that of hookworm infection; however, the clinical symptoms depend on the level of infection [ 48 ] and the presentation varies significantly between cases [ 49 ]. Even so, eosinophilia, coughing, fever and symptoms of bronchitis or pneumonitis are typically observed as the larvae migrate to the lungs.…”