Vahedeh Mohammadi-Meskin - Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Yaghoob Hamedi - Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Mehrgan Heydari-Hengami - Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Ebrahim Eftekhar - Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Khojasteh Sharifi-Sarasiabi - Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran

Introduction: It is estimated that ۱۰۰ - ۳۰۰ million people in the world are infected with Strongyloides stercoralis. Although there are several laboratory diagnostic methods for detection of this parasite, there is still no gold standard diagnostic method. The need for an application test with high sensitivity and specificity is highly felt, especially in people with immune deficiency or organ transplant volunteers.Methods: The diagnostic sensitivity of five parasitological methods, including direct smear of feces in saline and Lugol iodine stain, Baermann technique, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration, Harada-Mori filter paper, agar plate culture and molecular method was evaluated by stool specimens collected from the central mentally retardation institute of Bandar Abbas, to find out an easy, practical and cost-effective method for detecting Strongyloides stercoralis.Results: Five parasitological and molecular methods were investigated using ۱۶۳ stool samples. Considering the employed methods, there found to be ۳۰ cases of S. stercoralis. The total positive cases of S. stercoralis using different methods was considered as golden standard. The highest sensitivity of parasitological methods was associated with the Baermann ۲۷ (۹۰%) and the least positive results obtained with Harada-Mori method, ۱ (۳.۳%). In this study ۹ positive cases were detected by PCR method (۳۰%).Conclusion: Highest sensitivity was observed when different diagnostic approaches were combined where Baermann technique proceeded it. Therefore, this technique is recommended as a selective method for detecting S. stercoralis due to its easy, practical and inexpensive nature.

Methods, Strongyloides Stercoralis, Diagnosis