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A century-old methodology revisited: Quantitative standardisation for collection of Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs and current applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2026

A.N. Sales
Affiliation:
Departamento de Medicina, UFLA: Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
D. Pujoni
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitologia, UFMG: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
A.L. Melo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitologia, UFMG: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
V.L.T. Mati*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Medicina, UFLA: Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: V.L.T. Mati; Email: vitor.mati@ufla.br

Abstract

Human strongyloidiasis, caused by Strongyloides stercoralis, is a neglected disease of high worldwide prevalence, with considerable potential for severe, fatal outcomes in complicated cases. Studies using the rodent parasite Strongyloides venezuelensis as a model have provided valuable insights into strongyloidiasis, yet efficient, standardised methods for isolating large quantities of viable parasite eggs for biomedical research remain scarce. This study revisits and modernises the classical flotation principle, presenting a saturated-solution centrifugation protocol for egg recovery from infected clawed jirds (Meriones unguiculatus). Saturated NaCl outperformed sucrose, primarily due to enhanced egg visualisation and reduced microbial contamination, achieving mean recovery of 84.8 ± 6.7% (peaks to 94%). Key variables – including faecal suspension volume, solution concentration, reprocessing, and the NaCl gradient – were systematically optimised to maximise recovery and viability. The resulting protocol is cost-effective, rapid, and practical, enabling scalable collection of viable S. venezuelensis eggs (and likely other nematodes) for different applications, including hatching studies, larval development, microenvironmental assays, and drug screening. By integrating classical diagnostics with parametric optimisation, this study exemplifies how methodological advances preserve and renew foundational knowledge, underscoring its epistemological value in experimental parasitology.

Information

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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