Seroepidemiological Study of Strongyloidiasis in Patients Taking Immunosuppressive Drugs in Bushehr, Iran, 2012

Background and Strongyloidiasis is a nematode infection of humans with a worldwide distribution which is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Infected people are often clinically asymptomatic, however, in untreated immunosuppressed patients, it causes more than 80% mortality. So, the accurate and timely diagnosis of infection can prevent patient's death. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of strongyloidiasis in patients under chemotherapy and hemodialysis in Bushehr, Iran.
We performed a cross-sectional study in 2011-2012 in which all chemotherapy and hemodialysis patients were evaluated by ELISA method to determine the presence of anti-Strongyloides stercoralis IgG antibody.
A total of 214 individuals were studied from whom 4 (1.9%) patients under chemotherapy and 3 (1.4%) hemodialysis patients were positive for IgG antibody.
Strongyloidiasis is as a life-threatening risk factor in people under chemotherapy and hemodialysis, therefore, strongyloidiasis screening is suggested in these patients before administering immunosuppressive drugs, dialysis, and kidney transplant.