Infection With Strongyloides Stercoralis Among Children In Urban Slums Of Kibera In Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Strongyloidiasis is an intestinal parasitic infection with poorly-defined geographical Endemicity in Africa. It is a Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) infection caused by Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides fuelleborni.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of Strongyloides infection among children living in an urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Likewise, to assess it's association with other soil - transmitted Helminths.

Methodology and Findings: We used the recently-developed Ss-NIE-1-antibody ELISA assay for Strongyloides to evaluate Sera collected during a 2012 study of Soil Transmitted Helminth infection prevalence among children in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. A total of 745 samples from School Age Children (SAC) and Pre-school-age children (PSAC) were tested; eight (1.1%) were positive for Strongyloides. Infection was equally common among SAC and PSAC. No association was found between infection with Strongyloides and infection with other Soil Transmitted Helminths.

Conclusion: Strongyloides is a rare infection among children living in the urban slum of Kibera. Similar evaluation of exposure to Strongyloides stercoralis across different age groups and environmental, geographical features in Africa are warranted.

Keywords: Strongyloides, children, Kenya