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Strongyloidiasis Treatment Outcomes: A Prospective Study Using Serological and Molecular Methods
Ana Lucas Dato1,2, Philip Wikman-Jorgensen2,3,4, José María Saugar Cruz5,6
1Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases Department, Vega Baja Hospital-Orihuela, 03314 Alicante, Spain.
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
|April 25, 2025
Summary
Ivermectin effectively treats chronic strongyloidiasis in over 90% of patients. This study highlights its efficacy for Strongyloides stercoralis infection, with PCR aiding in detecting persistent cases.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Strongyloidiasis, caused by Strongyloides stercoralis, affects approximately 600 million people globally.
- Ivermectin is the established first-line treatment for this soil-transmitted helminth infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term treatment response to ivermectin in patients with chronic strongyloidiasis.
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of serology and PCR in monitoring treatment efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 28 patients diagnosed with S. stercoralis infection.
- Patients received ivermectin (200 mcg/kg for 1-2 days) and were monitored for at least 12 months.
- Assessments included hemogram, IgE, serology, larvae culture, direct visualization, and stool PCR.
Main Results:
- Twenty-one out of 23 patients (91.3%) who completed follow-up achieved treatment response.
- Two patients (8.6%) showed parasitological treatment failure, confirmed by detectable S. stercoralis DNA via PCR.
- Ivermectin demonstrated high effectiveness, with serology proving useful for monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Ivermectin is a highly effective treatment for chronic strongyloidiasis.
- Stool PCR offers a complementary diagnostic approach, identifying persistent infections missed by other methods.
- Long-term follow-up is crucial for confirming sustained treatment response.
