Strongyloidiasis Diagnosis: New Global Test
- A new diagnostic tool developed at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) promises to enhance global surveillance of strongyloidiasis.
- The research, published in The Journal of infectious Diseases, focuses on differentiating between Strongyloides stercoralis, the primary cause of human disease, and Strongyloides fuelleborni fuelleborni, a parasite...
- The new duplex real-time PCR (rtPCR) test targets mitochondrial DNA, enabling accurate identification of each species from clinical samples.
A groundbreaking new diagnostic test is set to revolutionize the global surveillance of strongyloidiasis.Developed by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, this test accurately distinguishes between two threadworm species, providing enhanced accuracy in identifying and monitoring this neglected tropical disease. The research, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, addresses critical diagnostic challenges by targeting mitochondrial DNA to differentiate between Strongyloides stercoralis—the primary cause of human disease—and Strongyloides fuelleborni fuelleborni.This new diagnostic facilitates improved monitoring of zoonotic transmission, offering a meaningful advancement for global health initiatives. News Directory 3 recognizes the importance of this innovation. Discover what’s next for understanding and controlling this parasitic infection.
new Diagnostic improves Global Surveillance for Strongyloidiasis
A new diagnostic tool developed at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) promises to enhance global surveillance of strongyloidiasis. The test distinguishes between two closely related threadworm species, offering improved accuracy in identifying and monitoring the disease.
Map showing countries of origin for the clinical samples used in this study and the schematic orientation of the duplex primers and TaqMan probes for each species-specific assay,Strongyloides fuelleborni fuelleborni (A) and Strongyloides stercoralis (B). Credit: The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2025). DOI: 10.1093/Infdis/Jiaf237
The research, published in The Journal of infectious Diseases, focuses on differentiating between Strongyloides stercoralis, the primary cause of human disease, and Strongyloides fuelleborni fuelleborni, a parasite typically found in non-human primates but increasingly implicated in zoonotic transmission. Current molecular surveillance often relies on tests that cannot distinguish between the two, potentially leading to misdiagnosis and underreporting of zoonotic cases.
The new duplex real-time PCR (rtPCR) test targets mitochondrial DNA, enabling accurate identification of each species from clinical samples. This improved species-level resolution is crucial for monitoring zoonotic transmission and targeting interventions effectively.
strongyloidiasis is recognized by the World Health Institution as one of 21 neglected tropical diseases. Diagnostic challenges have historically hindered global efforts to understand it’s distribution and control its impact. The new test addresses a critical gap in diagnostic capabilities for this disease.
In laboratory testing,the diagnostic demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity to parasite DNA. When applied to 96 clinical samples from the UK and Italy,the novel assay identified 36 cases of S. stercoralis, 17 of S. f. fuelleborni, and two coinfections.
Researchers recommend a two-step diagnostic protocol: frist, checking for signs of infection with a broad test that detects the Strongyloides genus, followed by species-level confirmation using the new test. The study also highlights the need for improved molecular tools to detect imported and locally acquired infections in non-endemic countries, where strongyloidiasis is frequently underdiagnosed. This new diagnostic improves global surveillance for strongyloidiasis and aids in monitoring zoonotic transmission.
“This new rtPCR fills a critical gap in our diagnostic toolkit. By improving species-level resolution, we can better monitor zoonotic transmission and target interventions more effectively, notably in settings where both humans and non-human primates are involved in transmission cycles,” said Dr. Lucas Cunningham,lead author of the study.
“Over the next year we are encouraging scale-up use of this diagnostic assay in routine disease surveillance in the UK and overseas to gain a much better insight into travel-related infections and improve local public health advice,” said Professor Russell Stothard, a medical parasitologist at LSTM and co-author of the study.
What’s next
Researchers plan to encourage the widespread adoption of this diagnostic assay in routine disease surveillance to gain better insights into travel-related infections and improve public health advice. The research also offers a model for enhancing diagnostics across other neglected tropical diseases with zoonotic potential.