Because of its characteristic features of autoinfection, the parasitic nematode can infect patients for years. An acceleration of its autoinfective cycle can be triggered by human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) infection, mainly by the deviation of the protective Th2- to Th1-type immune response and can lead to severe disease by dissemination of larvae carrying intestinal bacteria to multiple organs. Meningitis caused by enteric Gram-negative bacteria is a potentially fatal complication of disseminated strongyloidiasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF