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BACKGROUND: Strongyloidiasis is an infectious disease that can be fatal in immunocompromised patients. Patients with end-stage renal failure who are on dialysis have a considerably weakened immune system, and organ transplantation is a major risk factor for severe strongyloidiasis. Knowledge of the local epidemiology in tropical and subtropical areas is an essential prerequisite for designing an appropriate strategy to prevent this potentially lethal complication. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of S. stercoralis infection in patients on dialysis in Cochabamba, Bolivia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among patients undergoing haemodialysis in Cochabamba (elevation 2,500 m, temperate climate), collecting information on socio-demographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables, and using one coproparasitological technique (the modified Baermann technique) and one serological (ELISA) test for S.stercoralis diagnosis. RESULTS: In total, 149 patients participated in the study (mean age = 51.4 years, 48.3% male). End-stage renal disease was predominantly (59%) of hypertensive and/or diabetic origin. The positive serological prevalence was 18.8% (95% CI: 13.3%-25.9%). Based on the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test, the estimate of the actual prevalence was 15.1% (95% CI: 9.4%-20.7%). Stool samples of 105 patients (70.5%) showed a coproparasitological prevalence of 1.9% (95% CI: 0.52%-6.68%). No potential risk factors were significantly associated with S. stercoralis infection. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high seroprevalence of S. stercoralis in Bolivian patients undergoing haemodialysis in Cochabamba. We recommend presumptive antiparasitic treatment at regular intervals to avoid the potentially fatal complications of severe strongyloidiasis.

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Objetivo: la sensibilidad subóptima de las pruebas coproparasitológicas dificulta el diagnóstico de la estrongiloidiasis. Los métodos serológicos son más sensibles, pero los estudios en pacientes inmunodeprimidos son escasos. El objetivo del estudio fue de evaluar la sensibilidad de una prueba ELISA comercial en pacientes inmunodeprimidos. Métodos: se realizó en Bolivia un estudio multicéntrico en pacientes con cáncer, VIH, enfermedades reumatológicas y hematológicas. 88 pacientes con larvas de S.stercoralis en heces identificadas mediante técnicas coproparasitológicas tuvieron una prueba serológica ELISA (Bordier Affinity Products). Resultados: la sensibilidad de la técnica ELISA fue de 77,3% (61/88) (CI95%: 67,7-85,1). La sensibilidad de este test serológico fue identificada más baja en pacientes HIV+ con CD4300 o una serología VIH desconocida (84,2%) (p=0,035). Conclusiones: la sensibilidad del ELISA es inversamente proporcional al grado de inmunosupresión. Este resultado refuerza la recomendación de diagnosticar la estrongiloidiasis mediante una combinación de técnicas serológicas y coproparasitológicas.

Objectives: the sensitivity of coproparasitological tests for the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis are suboptimal. Serological methods are more sensitive, but studies among immunocompromised patients are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of a commercial ELISA test among immunocompromised patients. Methods: a multicenter study was conducted in Bolivia among patients with cancer, HIV, rheumatologic or hematologic diseases. 88 patients with S. stercoralis larvae in stool identified by coproparasitological techniques had an ELISA serological test (Bordier Affinity Products). Results: the sensitivity of the ELISA technique was 77,3% (61/88) (CI95%: 67,7-85,1), and was identified lower among HIV+ patients with CD4300 or unknown HIV serology (84,2%) (p=0,035). Conclusions: the sensitivity of ELISA is inversely proportional to the degree of immunosuppression. This result reinforces the recommendation to diagnose strongyloidiasis by a combination of serological and coproparasitological techniques.

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La estrongiloidiasis es una de las enfermedades parasitarias más desatendidas. Tiene una elevada morbilidad y mortalidad en personas tratadas con corticosteroides o con una inmunidad reducida por otros motivos. En Bolivia los estudios realizados han demostrado una alta prevalencia y su transmisión en diversas regiones tropicales y de los valles interandinos. Aunque la enfermedad no se transmite en climas fríos, todas las regiones de Bolivia pueden verse afectadas debido a la migración interna de la población. Las personas pueden infectarse al viajar a regiones endémicas décadas antes de presentar síntomas, porque si se deja sin tratar, puede persistir de por vida La baja sensibilidad de las pruebas diagnósticas coproparasitológicas utilizadas de rutina dificultan su diagnóstico, pero existen técnicas de diagnóstico más eficientes a bajo costo como la técnica de Baermann modificada. La ivermectina es el tratamiento de elección, muy eficaz, bien tolerado cuando es prescrito a dosis adecuada, accesible y disponible en Bolivia.

Strongyloidiasis is one of the neglected parasitosis. Strongyloidiasis has a high morbidity and mortality among people treated with corticosteroids or with reduced immunity for other reasons. In Bolivia, the studies have shown its transmission and high prevalence in various tropical regions and the inter-Andean valleys. Although the disease is not transmitted in cold climates, people living in all regions of Bolivia can be affected due to internal migration. Infection can occur during travel to endemic areas decades before the onset of symptoms, because if left untreated, the strongyloidiasis can persist for life. This disease is one of the most neglected mainly due to the low sensitivity of the coproparasitological tests routinely used in clinical laboratories. There are more efficient diagnostic methods, such as the modified Baermann technique. which can be applied in Bolivia at low cost. Ivermectin is the treatment of choice, effective, well tolerated in adequate dosis, cheap and available in Bolivia.

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BACKGROUND: Strongyloides stercoralis is widespread; however, there is limited information on its prevalence owing to laboratory underestimation and low clinical manifestations. The Baermann method and agar culture stand out among the parasitological techniques. Strongyloides stercoralis is present in Bolivia, but its prevalence in children remains unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the applicability of simple parasitological techniques to increase the detection of this parasite in children living in the tropics. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tropical village in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Participants were 304 children aged 5 - 12 years who provided stool samples for different parasitological analyses (direct examination, Ritchie, Baermann, and Dancescu techniques), and their parents provided informed consent. RESULTS: Up to 64.8% of pathogenic parasites were detected using the modified Ritchie method. The Baermann technique identified 17.8% of Strongyloides stercoralis cases, and a high sensitivity with respect to the Baermann technique was only for the Dancescu technique (75.9%) that is also specific for Strongyloides stercoralis, followed by 66.7% for the modified Ritchie technique, which is used in second-line care. DISCUSSION: The Baermann technique is the best parasitological option for improving Strongyloides stercoralis diagnosis in the first-line care of the Primary Health Care System. A particular cycle of reinfection, combined with the environment and some other risk factors are related with persistence. Control is difficult without a proper diagnosis, and the Baermann technique is an approach to the solution. We conclude that with a high suspicion of the presence of Strongyloides stercoralis, the use of the Baermann technique is strongly recommended as support for direct examination in primary health care systems especially in tropical areas.

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BACKGROUND: Strongyloidiasis can be fatal in immunocompromised patients, but few epidemiological studies investigated the burden of this neglected tropical disease among these populations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Bolivia. This study aimed to fill in this gap by estimating prevalence rate and risk factors associated with strongyloidiasis among patients at high risk of complications. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Santa Cruz (elevation 400 meters, tropical climate) and Cochabamba (elevation 2,500 meters, temperate climate), among patients with cancer, HIV infection and rheumatic or hematologic disease, using four coproparasitological techniques and one serological (ELISA) test. RESULTS: In total, 1,151 patients participated in this study, including individuals who were HIV-positive (30%) or with rheumatic (29%), oncologic (32%) or hematologic (9%) diseases. The serological and coproparasitological prevalence was 23.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.7-25.5; n = 265/1151) and 7.6% (95% CI, 6.2-9.3; n = 88/1151), respectively, with an estimated actual prevalence of 20.2% (95% CI, 17.9-22.5). Positive serology and positive coproparasitology were associated with younger age and lower education levels. There was no significant difference in prevalence between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz as defined by coproparasitology (6.4% vs. 8.9%; p = 0.11) or serology (24.0% vs. 22.0%; p = 0.4). Among 64 patients in Cochabamba who had never travelled to the tropical lowlands, 5 (7.8%) had a positive coproparasitology. CONCLUSIONS: Strongyloidiasis is widely prevalent in Bolivia among vulnerable patients at increased risk of life-threatening complications. Transmission of the parasite occurs both in tropical lowlands and temperate elevation (≥ 2,500 m). Control strategies to prevent transmission and complications of this serious parasitic disease should be urgently reinforced.

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BACKGROUND: Large numbers of Latin American immigrants recently arrived in Western Europe. Curative and preventive programmes need to take account of their risk of suffering and transmitting imported chronic infections and of their susceptibility to cosmopolitan infections. We aimed to assess the prevalence and co-occurrence of imported chronic infections among Latin American immigrants, and their susceptibility to highly prevalent cosmopolitan infections. METHODS: Adult participants were recruited in the community and in a primary health centre in Geneva in 2008. Serological tests were performed on stored sera for HIV, HBV, syphilis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trypanosoma cruzi, varicella and measles. We considered only chronic active infections in the analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The 1 012 participants, aged 37.2 (SD 11.3) years, were mostly female (82.5 %) and Bolivians (48 %). Overall, 209 (20.7 %) had at least one and 27 (2.7 %) two or more chronic infections. T. cruzi (12.8 %) and S. stercoralis (8.4 %) were the most prevalent chronic active infections compared to syphilis (0.4 %), HBV (0.4 %) and HIV (1.4 %). Concomitant infections affected 28.2 and 18.5 % of T. cruzi and S. stercoralis infected cases. Bolivian origin (aOR: 13.6; 95 % CI: 3.2-57.9) was associated with risk of multiple infections. Susceptibilities for VZV and measles were 0.7 and 1.4 %, respectively. Latin American immigrants are at risk of complications and possible reactivation of chronic parasitic infections but have overall low risks of chronic viral and syphilitic active infections. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic screening for chronic active parasitic infections is therefore necessary especially among Bolivians. The high protection rate against measles and VZV doesn't require specific preventive interventions.

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Objetivos: identificar la relación entre asma y toxocariasis y los factores de riesgo para cada una de estas enfermedades. Métodos: estudio de tipo caso control. Se incluyeron pacientes entre 2-13 años de edad, de los cuales 41 pacientes tienen el diagnóstico de asma y 41 niños (controles) sin asma que fueron pareados por edad y sexo. Resultados: no se demostró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre Asma y Toxocariasis. Los factores que mostraron ser un riesgo para asma en los pacientes fue el antecedente de tener un familiar con asma, historia de alergias previas y el juego frecuente con perros en el domicilio. La seroprevalencia para toxocariasis fue baja en la serie de estudio (6%). La mayor parte de los niños tienen en su casa perros, suelen jugar en parques y plazuelas y en sus casas tienen patios y jardines con suelo de tierra o césped, en número menor de casos los niños tienen pica. Conclusiones: la escasa información existente sobre toxocariasis en animales y humanos, así como la interacción con el asma amerita ampliar investigaciones epidemiológicas en nuestro medio.

Objectives: to identify the relationship between asthma and toxocariasis and risk factors for each of these diseases. Methods: case-control study. Patients aged 2-13 years old, of whom 41 are patients with a diagnosis of asthma (cases) and 41 children (controls) without asthma who were matched for age and sex. Results: there was not a statistically significant relationship between asthma and Toxocariasis. The factors to be a risk for asthma patients was having a family history of asthma, history of previous allergiesand frequent playing with dogs at home. Toxocariasis seroprevalence was low in the study series (6%). Most children have dogs at home, usually play in parks and squares and have courtyards and gardens with soil and grass at home, in fewer cases of children have pica. Conclusions: the data were limited existing information on animal and human toxocariasis, as well as interaction with asthma warrants expanding epidemio-logical research in our midst.

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