The project partnership between Saarland University and University Medical Centre and Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, aims to improve the capacities for diagnosing parasitic infections at partner laboratories on five Indonesian islands. To help achieve this, joint training courses are provided on new techniques for diagnosing worm infections.
Background:
Worm infections are some of the most significant infectious diseases in Indonesia. The worm infection of the dwarf threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis in particular affects large parts of the Indonesian population and can lead to an explosive spread of the worm in the bodies of affected patients. This can become fatal in a matter of days if left untreated. However, it is not possible to diagnose the infection using standard laboratory methods; special techniques are required.
Activities:
- Conducting training workshops on special laboratory techniques
- Putting the techniques to diagnose the worm infection into practice at the partner laboratories on the Indonesian islands
- Implementing and evaluating round robin tests at the partner laboratories
Impact:
The establishment of a viable diagnostic method in the laboratories on the affected islands allows affected patients to be given a more accurate diagnosis. Once the project has been concluded, this is to be carried over to the national control programme for worm infections with the aim of curbing infections in the long term.