title: Comparative evaluation of three new tools for diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis based on detection of specific circulating antigens.
abstract: Three new and commercially available tools for diagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti infections based on detection of specific circulating antigens were evaluated and compared in the same group of individuals from a highly endemic village in southern Ghana. The tests were: (1) the ICT card test for serum specimens; (2) the TropBio ELISA test for serum specimens; and (3) the TropBio ELISA test for filter-paper specimens. A high degree of positive/negative response similarity was observed for the 3 tests, and the sensitivity for detecting microfilaraemic cases was 100% for all tests. The antigen levels measured in the TropBio serum test and the TropBio filter-paper test were statistically significantly correlated. Among antigen-positive endemic individuals the antigen levels in these 2 tests furthermore showed a positive association with the microfilarial intensity, but a statistical significant correlation was seen only for the filter-paper version of the test. The results are promising for the use of the 3 tests as diagnostic tools in bancroftian filariasis.
authors.affiliation: Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Charlottenlund, Denmark. pes@bilharziasis.dk
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dunyo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015415:Biomarkers; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic