[Concordance between the zinc sulphate flotation and centrifugal sedimentation methods for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites].

Introduction: The diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections depends on the parasite load, the specific gravity density of the parasite eggs, oocysts or cysts, and the density and viscosity of flotation or sedimentation medium where faeces are processed.

Objective: To evaluate the concordance between zinc sulphate flotation and centrifugal sedimentation in the recovery of parasites in faecal samples of children.

Materials And Methods: Faecal samples of 330 children from day care centers were evaluated by zinc sulphate flotation and centrifugal sedimentation techniques.

Alterations in serum paraoxonase-1 activity and lipid profile in chronic alcoholic patients infected with Strongyloides stercoralis.

The objective of this study was to investigate paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity, cortisol levels, and the lipid profile in the sera of alcoholic and non-alcoholic Strongyloides stercoralis-infected and uninfected individuals in a sample of 276 individuals attended at the National Health System in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The activity of PON1 was measured by the Beltowski method, serum lipids, and cortisol levels using commercial kits. PON1 activity was low in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic individuals infected with S.

Strongyloides stercoralis infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnosis and prevention of severe strongyloidiasis.

Aim: Strongyloides stercoralis infection is usually chronic and asymptomatic and may persist undiagnosed for decades. However, in immunocompromised individuals, the infection can cause hyperinfection and dissemination. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential to prevent severe forms of strongyloidiasis.

The role of glycosylated epitopes in the serodiagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection.

Carbohydrates of pathogen antigens have been disrupted by periodate oxidation, in order to reduce nonspecific bindings and improve serodiagnosis of parasite infections. In the present study, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out with filariform larvae antigen treated, or not treated, with sodium metaperiodate. Groups of sera from patients with Strongyloides stercoralis infection, with other intestinal parasites and a normal control, were used.