Strongyloides stercoralis: Global Distribution and Risk Factors |
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Authors: | Fabian Sch?r Ulf Trostdorf Federica Giardina Virak Khieu Sinuon Muth Hanspeter Marti Penelope Vounatsou Peter Odermatt |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.; 2. University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.; 3. National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Ministry of Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.; 4. Medical and Diagnostics Department, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, |
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Abstract: | BackgroundThe soil-transmitted threadworm, Strongyloides stercoralis, is one of the most neglected among the so-called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). We reviewed studies of the last 20 years on S. stercoralis''s global prevalence in general populations and risk groups.Methods/Principal FindingsA literature search was performed in PubMed for articles published between January 1989 and October 2011. Articles presenting information on infection prevalence were included. A Bayesian meta-analysis was carried out to obtain country-specific prevalence estimates and to compare disease odds ratios in different risk groups taking into account the sensitivities of the diagnostic methods applied. A total of 354 studies from 78 countries were included for the prevalence calculations, 194 (62.4%) were community-based studies, 121 (34.2%) were hospital-based studies and 39 (11.0%) were studies on refugees and immigrants. World maps with country data are provided. In numerous African, Asian and South-American resource-poor countries, information on S. stercoralis is lacking. The meta-analysis showed an association between HIV-infection/alcoholism and S. stercoralis infection (OR: 2.17 BCI: 1.18–4.01; OR: 6.69; BCI: 1.47–33.8), respectively.ConclusionsOur findings show high infection prevalence rates in the general population in selected countries and geographical regions. S. stercoralis infection is prominent in several risk groups. Adequate information on the prevalence is still lacking from many countries. However, current information underscore that S. stercoralis must not be neglected. Further assessments in socio-economic and ecological settings are needed and integration into global helminth control is warranted. |
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