Vol. 3 (3), pp. 14-23, December 2017 ISSN 2449-0814 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26765/DRJHP.2017.7842 Article Number: DRJA26047842 Copyright © 2017 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article Direct Research Journal of Health and Pharmacology (DRJHP) http://directresearchpublisher.org/aboutjournal/drjhp Research Paper Proteomic identification of larval excretory/secretory diagnostic biomarkers for early hyperinfection in strongyloidiasis Aliyu Mahmuda 1 *, Al-Zihiry Khalid Jameel Kadhim 2 , Zasmy Unyah 3 , Roslaini Abd Majid 3 , Rukman Awang Hamat 3 , Yusuf Yakubu 4 , Abdurrahman Bello 5 , Abdullahi Abdullahi Raji 6 , Umar Salisu Ahmad 7 and Yahaya Abubakar Yabo 8 1 Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu, Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. 2 Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq. 3 Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. 4 Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu, Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. 5 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. 6 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. 7 Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. 8 Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. *Corresponding author E-mail: alibadra1213@gmail.com Received 20 November 2017; Accepted 9 December, 2017 The aim of the current study was to identify early specific diagnostic proteins from the components of Strongyloides ratti larval Excretory/Secretory (E/S) products. Products from the treated (Prednisolone) and non-treated (control) groups were analysed using two dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, LC- MS/MS and MALDI-TOF/TOF Mass Spectrophotometry. A total of 10 different protein biomarkers were detected as overexpressed from the ES treated products with molecular weights ranging from 30 - 90 kDa and isoelectric points (IP) range from 4 - 9. Eight (8) overexpressed protein biomarkers were also identified from the infected and prednisolone-treated rat sera. Relative quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to compare the expression level of the biomarker genes between the treated and non-treated groups in order to validate the related expressed biomarkers. Nine (9) related genes were observed to show significant high expression levels of the identified biomarkers, whereas one (1) gene (Arg) recorded down regulation in its expression. The identified proteins in this study might be of specific importance as diagnostic biomarkers for early hyperinfection syndrome in strongyloidiasis. Key words: Proteomics, diagnostic biomarkers, hyperinfection, strongyloidiasis INTRODUCTION Many studies have reported strongyloidiasis in travelers and immigrants from tropical and sub-tropical countries (Croker et al., 2010), mainly affecting school aged children, people living in unhygienic habitats and of low socio-economic status (Lim et al., 2004), immunocompromised patients resulting from cancer, HIV,