PCR-based verification of positive rapid diagnostic tests for intestinal protozoa infections with variable test band intensity.

PCR-based verification of positive rapid diagnostic tests for intestinal protozoa infections with variable test band intensity. Acta Trop. 2017 Jun 17;: Authors: Becker SL, Müller I, Mertens P, Herrmann M, Zondie L, Beyleveld L, Gerber M, Randt RD, Pühse U, Walter C, Utzinger J Abstract Stool-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for pathogenic intestinal protozoa (e.g. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis) allow for prompt diagnosis and treatment in resource-constrained settings. Such RDTs can improve individual patient management and facilitate population-based screening programmes in areas without microbiological laboratories for confirmatory testing. However, RDTs are difficult to interpret in case of 'trace' results with faint test band intensities and little is known about whether such ambiguous results might indicate 'true' infections. In a longitudinal study conducted in poor neighbourhoods of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, a total of 1,428 stool samples from two cohorts of schoolchildren were examined on the spot for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. intestinalis using an RDT (Crypto/Giardia DuoStrip; Coris BioConcept). Overall, 121 samples were positive for G. intestinalis and the RDT suggested presence of cryptosporidiosis in 22 samples. After a storage period of 9-10 months in cohort 1 and 2-3 months in cohort 2, samples were subjected to multiplex PCR (BD Max™ Enteric Parasite Panel, Becton Dickinson). Ninety-three p...
Source: Acta Tropica - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Acta Trop Source Type: research