Evaluation of parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni in a low transmission area

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2015-04, Vol.110 (2), p.209-214
• Main Authors: Siqueira, Liliane Maria Vidal, Gomes, Luciana Inácia, Oliveira, Edward, Oliveira, Eduardo Ribeiro de, Oliveira, Áureo Almeida de, Enk, Martin Johannes, Carneiro, Nídia Figueiredo, Rabello, Ana, Coelho, Paulo Marcos Zech
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anthelmintics - therapeutic use; Brazil; control; diagnosis; Endemic Diseases; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces - parasitology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; low transmission area; Male; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - methods; Parasite Load; PARASITOLOGY; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Praziquantel - therapeutic use; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosoma mansoni - genetics; Schistosoma mansoni - isolation & purification; schistosomiasis; Schistosomiasis mansoni - diagnosis; Schistosomiasis mansoni - drug therapy; Schistosomiasis mansoni - epidemiology; TROPICAL MEDICINE
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760140375

This study evaluated parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni. A population-based study was performed in 201 inhabitants from a low transmission locality named Pedra Preta, municipality of Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Four stool samples were analysed using two techniques, the Kato-Katz® (KK) technique (18 slides) and the TF-Test®, to establish the infection rate. The positivity rate of 18 KK slides of four stool samples was 28.9% (58/201) and the combined parasitological techniques (KK+TF-Test®) produced a 35.8% positivity rate (72/201). Furthermore, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA assay produced a positivity rate of 23.4% (47/201) using the first sample. All 72 patients with positive parasitological exams were treated with a single dose of Praziquantel® and these patients were followed-up 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment to establish the cure rate. Cure rates obtained by the analysis of 12 KK slides were 100%, 100% and 98.4% at 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment, respectively. PCR-ELISA revealed cure rates of 98.5%, 95.5% and 96.5%, respectively. The diagnostic and assessment of cure for schistosomiasis may require an increased number of KK slides or a test with higher sensitivity, such as PCR-ELISA, in situations of very low parasite load, such as after therapeutic interventions.