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Shield J, Braat S, Watts M, Robertson G, Beaman M, McLeod J, Baird RW, Hart J, Robson J, Lee R, McKessar S, Nicholson S, Mayer-Coverdale J, Biggs BA. Seropositivity and geographical distribution of Strongyloides stercoralis in Australia: A study of pathology laboratory data from 2012-2016. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009160. [PMID: 33690623 PMCID: PMC7978363 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are no national prevalence studies of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Australia, although it is known to be endemic in northern Australia and is reported in high risk groups such as immigrants and returned travellers. We aimed to determine the seropositivity (number positive per 100,000 of population and percent positive of those tested) and geographical distribution of S. stercoralis by using data from pathology laboratories. Methodology We contacted all seven Australian laboratories that undertake Strongyloides serological (ELISA antibody) testing to request de-identified data from 2012–2016 inclusive. Six responded. One provided positive data only. The number of people positive, number negative and number tested per 100,000 of population (Australian Bureau of Statistics data) were calculated including for each state/territory, each Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area Level 3 (region), and each suburb/town/community/locality. The data was summarized and expressed as maps of Australia and Greater Capital Cities. Principal findings We obtained data for 81,777 people who underwent serological testing for Strongyloides infection, 631 of whom were from a laboratory that provided positive data only. Overall, 32 (95% CI: 31, 33) people per 100,000 of population were seropositive, ranging between 23/100,000 (95% CI: 19, 29) (Tasmania) and 489/100,000 population (95%CI: 462, 517) (Northern Territory). Positive cases were detected across all states and territories, with the highest (260-996/100,000 and 17–40% of those tested) in regions across northern Australia, north-east New South Wales and north-west South Australia. Some regions in Greater Capital Cities also had a high seropositivity (112-188/100,000 and 17–20% of those tested). Relatively more males than females tested positive. Relatively more adults than children tested positive. Children were under-represented in the data. Conclusions/Significance The study confirms that substantial numbers of S. stercoralis infections occur in Australia and provides data to inform public health planning. Strongyloides stercoralis, a parasitic roundworm, is endemic in many countries world-wide. In Australia, groups at risk for strongyloidiasis include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, who acquired this parasite locally, and immigrants and returned travellers who acquired the infection outside Australia. We obtained deidentified results of ELISA IgG antibody tests for Strongyloides from diagnostic pathology laboratories during 2012 to 2016 and calculated the number of people who were positive at least once and the number who never had a positive result. We drew maps showing the number positive per 100,000 of population, the percent positive of those tested, and the number tested/100,000 for each region and the number positive in each suburb of residence according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The highest seropositivity (260-996/100,000 of population) was in Northern Australia, north-west South Australia and north-east New South Wales where many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in remote communities. There were also some regions in Greater Capital Cities with a high number of people positive per 100,000 of population (112-188/100,000), likely reflecting higher populations of immigrants and returned travellers who were infected outside Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Shield
- Departments of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Pharmacy and Applied Science, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Sabine Braat
- Departments of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Watts
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pathology West-ICPMR and Marie Bashir Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Miles Beaman
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - James McLeod
- Territory Pathology, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Robert W. Baird
- Territory Pathology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Julie Hart
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Robson
- Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rogan Lee
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pathology West-ICPMR and Marie Bashir Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Suellen Nicholson
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Beverley-Ann Biggs
- Departments of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Disease Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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