Strongyloidiasis does not discriminate: Nor should the screening and treatment

Strongyloidiasis is caused by the soil-transmitted helminth, Strongyloides stercoralis. It has been estimated to infect between 380 and 613 million people worldwide1, 2 and remains endemic in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia.3-12 Despite strongyloidiasis being a chronic health issue and seroprevalence reaching 60% in some communities,13 the true incidence remains unknown as a result of underdiagnosis and absence of surveillance data across Australia.13 In their study, Hansen et al.14 found that strongyloidiasis seropositivity is not associated with symptoms and therefore argued that S. stercoralis seropositive cases should not become notifiable. We do not support Hansen et al.'s14 conclusions.