title: Assessing the marginal error in diagnosis and cure of Schistosoma mansoni in areas of low endemicity using Percoll and PCR techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Kato-Katz technique misses a proportion of low-intensity schistosomiasis cases. We set out to estimate the rate of false negative results after Kato-Katz.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison with the more sensitive Percoll technique and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amongst Kato-Katz negative Schistosoma mansoni specimens in a hypoendemic area, Percoll detected 11% positive cases and PCR detected 23%. After treatment, the cure rate was 97% by Kato-Katz, 90% by Percoll and 71% by PCR. Results of Kato-Katz and Percoll showed moderate agreement, all cases positive by Kato-Katz were positive by Percoll. However, PCR showed some negative results amongst cases considered sure positives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Percoll technique seems to be the technique of choice for diagnosis of S. mansoni in low intensity areas and after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. amalalam2005@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Amal Farahat
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Allam
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kader
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.forename: Amel Youssef
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Shehab
authors.forename: Hoda Fahmy
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Farag
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D011223:Praziquantel