Background: The threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis, the most neglected helminth, affects an estimated 30-100
million people worldwide. Information on S. stercoralis infection is scarce in tropical and sub-tropical resource poor
countries, including Cambodia. We determined S. stercoralis infection prevalence and risk factors for infection in the
general population in Southern Cambodia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between January and April 2011 among 2,861 participants living
in 60 villages of Takeo province, using Koga-agar plate culture, the Baermann technique and the Kato-Katz
technique on a single stool sample.
Results: Eight intestinal helminth species were diagnosed. Hookworm (31.4%) and S. stercoralis (21.0%) occurred
most frequently. Prevalence of S. stercoralis infection increased with age. In all age groups a higher prevalence was
found among males than among females (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.4 – 2.0; P < 0.001). Participants who had a latrine at
home were significantly less frequently infected with S. stercoralis than those who did not (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.4 – 0.8;
P = 0.003). Muscle pain (OR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0 – 1.6; P = 0.028) and urticaria (OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1 – 1.8; P = 0.001) were
significantly associated with S. stercoralis infection.
Conclusions: S. stercoralis is highly prevalent among the general Cambodian population and should no longer be
neglected. Access to adequate diagnosis and treatment is urgently needed.