Seroepidemiological aspects of human Strongyloides stercoralis infections in Chile
Mercado, Rén.; Jercic, M.Isabel.; Alcayaga, S.; de Paula, F.M.; Ueta, M.T.; Costa-Cruz, J.M.
Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo 49(4): 247-249
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-4665 PMID: 17823755 Document Number: 612916
To determine the frequency of Strongyloides stercoralis antibodies by means of file enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in Chile, in 2001-2003, 675 blood samples of patients of two psychiatric hospitals and 172 of healthy individuals (doctors, nurses and paramedicals) of these institutions, and 1,200 serum samples of Mood donors of Northern region (Arica and Antofagasta), Central region (Valparaiso and Santiago) and Southern region (La Union) were collected. ELISA showed positivity of 12.1% in psychiatric hospitalize(] patients, none (0%) in the health personnel and 0.25% in blood donors (p < 0.05). Only in blood donors of Arica 0%) and La Union (0.5%) the ELISA test was positive suggesting that strongyloidiasis is focalized in determinate, zone,,, of the country. In Chile, human infections by S. stercoralis are endemic with very low frequency in apparently healthy individuals and high prevalence in risk groups such as the mentally ill hospitalized patients.