title: Extensive multiple test centre evaluation of the VecTest malaria antigen panel assay.
abstract: To determine which species and populations of Anopheles transmit malaria in any given situation, immunological assays for malaria sporozoite antigen can replace traditional microscopical examination of freshly dissected Anopheles. We developed a wicking assay for use with mosquitoes that identifies the presence or absence of specific peptide epitopes of circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum and two strains of Plasmodium vivax (variants 210 and 247). The resulting assay (VecTest Malaria) is a rapid, one-step procedure using a 'dipstick' test strip capable of detecting and distinguishing between P. falciparum and P. vivax infections in mosquitoes. The objective of the present study was to test the efficacy, sensitivity, stability and field-user acceptability of this wicking dipstick assay. In collaboration with 16 test centres world-wide, we evaluated more than 40 000 units of this assay, comparing it to the standard CS ELISA. The 'VecTest Malaria' was found to show 92% sensitivity and 98.1% specificity, with 97.8% accuracy overall. In accelerated storage tests, the dipsticks remained stable for > 15 weeks in dry conditions up to 45 degrees C and in humid conditions up to 37 degrees C. Evidently, this quick and easy dipstick test performs at an acceptable level of reliability and offers practical advantages for field workers needing to make rapid surveys of malaria vectors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA. jeffrey.ryan@na.amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davé
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hochberg
authors.forename: Jetsumon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sattabongkot
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Dunton
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bangs
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mbogo
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Schoeler
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rubio-Palis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magris
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Romer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Quakyi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bigoga
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Leke
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akinpelu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walsey
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: A S T
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000635:transmission; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000635:transmission; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011934:Reagent Strips / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011934:Reagent Strips; C041595:circumsporozoite protein, Protozoan