Prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis Among Immunosuppressed Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Katsina State

Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted nematode capable of causing life-threatening hyperinfection in immunosuppressed individuals, yet it remains underdiagnosed in Nigerian clinical settings. This study assessed the prevalence of S. stercoralis among immunosuppressed patients at a tertiary hospital in Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria. A total of 190 stool samples from patients with HIV, organ transplant recipients, and those on long-term corticosteroid therapy were examined using the Baermann funnel technique and agar plate culture method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay serology was performed for confirmatory testing in a subsample. A prevalence of 9.5 percent was detected, with hyperinfection syndrome confirmed in two patients presenting with septicaemia and respiratory failure. HIV-positive patients with CD4 counts below 200 cells per microlitre showed the highest positivity rates. The study identifies a significant clinical gap in routine strongyloidiasis screening for immunosuppressed patients in Northwest Nigeria and recommends inclusion of S. stercoralis testing in the standard immunocompromised patient workup protocol at all tertiary facilities. Keywords: Strongyloides stercoralis, hyperinfection, immunosuppressed patients, Katsina State, neglected tropical diseases.