| Investigation of Strongyloidiasis Transmission from Infected Mother to Newborn Postpartum |
| Paper ID : 1272-IGA |
| Authors |
|
Mahdieh Sorouri Majd *1, Zohreh Fakhrieh Kashan2, Eshrat Beigom Kia2, Somayeh Mousavi Mobarakeh2, Seyedeh Hajar Sharami3, Azadeh Jafari3 1Student’s Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Al-Zahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. |
| Abstract |
| Background: Strongyloidiasis is a disease caused by the soil-transmitted nematode Strongyloides stercoralis. It is considered a neglected disease that can lead to long-term disability, growth retardation in children, complications during pregnancy, and adverse effects on the fetus. In this study, we examine a case of strongyloidiasis in a newborn born to a mother infected with confirmed strongyloidiasis during pregnancy, diagnosed by serological, parasitological, and molecular methods. Case Presentation: A 38-year-old woman at 35 weeks of gestation from a rural area in Rasht, Guilan province, Iran, presented with gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain) and severe dyspnea since the fourth month of pregnancy. Her medical history included hypothyroidism and a pituitary microadenoma. With limited literacy and daily soil contact through agricultural work, she was at high risk for soil-transmitted infections. She reported contact with a pet cat and inadequate vegetable hygiene practices. Laboratory findings revealed a peripheral blood eosinophil count of 2%. Stool examination (direct smear, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration, and agar plate culture) and serological testing (ELISA for S. stercoralis antibodies) confirmed strongyloidiasis, further validated by molecular methods. Due to potential risks of anti-helminthic drugs during pregnancy, treatment was deferred until one month post-delivery, after breastfeeding cessation. The newborn’s stool and breast milk were tested parasitologically and molecularly one month after birth, with negative results, indicating no infection. Conclusion: Pregnant women are a high-risk group for strongyloidiasis due to pregnancy-related immunosuppression, increasing the potential for disseminated infection, which poses significant maternal and fetal risks. Given the adverse effects of antiparasitic treatment during pregnancy, routine serological screening for S. stercoralis in women before pregnancy in endemic areas is recommended to enable early intervention and mitigate complications, safeguarding maternal and fetal health. |
| Keywords |
| Strongyloides stercoralis, Pregnant women, Neonate, Iran |
| Status: Accepted |
