The fourth-stage autoinfective larva of <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i>: redescription and diagnostic implications.

ABSTRACT: Human strongyloidiasis is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, which can relate to a lack of knowledge or recognition of the importance of particular developmental/larval stages of Strongyloides stercoralis in making an accurate diagnosis using parasitological methods (a morphological approach or morphological features/characters). Here, we report the identification of S. stercoralis autoinfective fourth-stage larvae (L4a) in naturally infected humans, encountered in two clinical cases in Australia. These larvae were identified in sputum (Case 1) and bronchoalveolar lavage (Case 2) specimens by direct wet-mount microscopy. The L4a of S. stercoralis can be morphologically differentiated from autoinfective third-stage larvae by its conical and pointed tail and a relativ

SUBMITTER: Zhao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11784425 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature