A Simple Modification of the Baermann Method for Diagnosis of Strongyloidiasis

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2001, Volume 96, Number 6, pp. 805-807 A Simple Modification of the Baermann Method for Diagnosis of Strongyloidiasis Francisco Hernández-Chavarría, Leticia Avendaño Code Number: oc01129 ABSTRACT: The diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infections is routinely made by microscopic observation of larvae in stool samples, a low sensitivity method, or by other, most effective methods, such as the Baermann or agar culture plate methods. We propose in this paper a practical modification of Baermann method. One hundred and six stool samples from alcoholic patients were analyzed using the direct smear test, agar culture plate method, the standard Baermann method, and its proposed modification. For this modification the funnel used in the original version of the method is substituted by a test tube with a rubber stopper, perforated to allow insertion of a pipette tip. The tube with a fecal suspension is inverted over another tube containing 6 ml of saline solution and incubated at 37°C for at least 2 h. The saline solution from the second tube is centrifuged and the pellet is observed microscopically. KEYWORDS: Strongyloides stercoralis, Baermann method, agar culture plate method, direct smear, intestinal parasites Copyright 2001 Mem Inst Oswaldo Cru