The investigation of Strongyloides stercoralis seroprevalence in immunosupressed patients in Turkey

• Published in: Turkish journal of medical sciences Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 16 - 19
• Main Authors: Kaya, Filiz, İnkaya, Ahmet Çağkan, Ertenli, Ali İhsan, Abbasoğlu, Osman, Aksoy, Sercan, Akyön Yılmaz, Yakut, Ergüven, Sibel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey 11.02.2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Arthritis; Female; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Immunosuppressive Agents - adverse effects; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Strongyloides stercoralis; Strongyloidiasis - epidemiology; Strongyloidiasis - mortality; Transplant Recipients; Turkey - epidemiology; Young Adult; Turkey; immunosuppression; strongyloidiasis; parasitic infection; Strongyloides stercoralis; serology
• ISSN: 1300-0144; 1303-6165
• DOI: 10.3906/sag-1804-16

In immunosuppressed patients, strongyloidiasis can be lifethreatening because of hyperinfection or dissemination. Therefore, diagnosis of S. stercoralis is important in immunosuppressed patients with chronic strongyloidiasis. In this study, our objective was to investigate the presence of S. stercoralis antibodies by an ELISA method in immunosuppressed patients. A total of 100 immunosuppressed patients’ sera were included in the study. Forty-two of the patients were receiving immunosuppressive therapies for cancer or being treated for hematopoietic malignancies, 38 of the patients were receiving immunosuppressive drugs for rheumatic diseases, 14 were receiving immunosuppressive therapies for liver transplantation. Two of the patients were being treated for HIV infection and 4 were being treated for hypogammaglobulinemia. As control group, 50 individuals without a known disease were included in the study. The presence of IgG antibodies against S. stercoralis was investigated with a commercial ELISA kit. S. stercoralis antibody test was positive in 4 of 100 (4%) sera from immunosuppressed patients. All control patients were negative for S. stercoralis. Strongyloidiasis can be a lifelong chronic infection if not treated. In patients who are going to receive immunosuppressive therapy, it should be tested before treatment, as it can become a disseminated and life-threatening infectious disease.