@phdthesis{JanzenMaaser2023,
  author    = {Janzen-Maaser, Anita},
  title     = {Prevalence of Strongyloides infection and other intestinal parasites in paediatric patients in a referral hospital in Northern Tanzania},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-29702},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-297023},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The StrongPaed study in the paediatric ward of a referral hospital in Mwanza in the lake region of Tanzania showed the prevalence of S. stercoralis, G. lamblia, E. histolytica and E. dispar as well as of other intestinal parasites with various diagnostic methods. The prevalence of S. stercoralis was 2-10 \% depending on the diagnostic methods used. There were no symptomatic infections but only carriage of the nematode. The positive results differed greatly depending on the performed diagnostic methods. None of the diagnostics showed satisfying results, neither in sensitivity and specificity nor in feasibility for this population in an endemic region in sub-Saharan Africa. PCR and microscopy were limited by the low amount of examined stool samples and by the resulting lack of sensitivity. Stool cultures were limited by time-consuming procedures and mainly by the problem of differentiation from hookworm and the resulting lack of specificity. ELISA was limited by the need of blood samples and also by poor specificity in the ELISA used. The prevalence of G. lamblia was high, but mostly only carriage and not symptomatic infections was seen. No E. histolytica was detected, but 8.5 \% samples were positive for E. dispar. Among the performed diagnostics, the rapid test showed sufficient results. It showed better sensitivity than microscopy and is cheaper and more feasible than PCR. Differentiation between E. histolytica and E. dispar was only possible with qPCR performed in Germany. More children were positive for intestinal parasites from rural than from urban areas. The profession of the parents working as farmers was a risk factor for intestinal parasitic infections. Hygienic living conditions such as access to tap water and flush toilets at home were preventive for intestinal parasitic infections in children.},
  subject      = {Strongyloides},
  language  = {en}
}