title: Improvement of a PCR test to diagnose infection by Mansonella ozzardi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mansonelliasis is caused by Mansonella ozzardi. It is widespread in the Amazon region, with a high prevalence. The common exam of thick blood smears stained with Giemsa shows low efficacy levels and has been an obstacle to diagnosing individuals with low blood parasitemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to increase diagnosis efficacy, the PCR technique was improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCR demonstrated the best performance, with sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPV) of 100%, followed by blood filtration through membrane filters, which showed a sensitivity of 88.9% and a NPV of 84.6%, when compared to thick blood smears.
authors.affiliation: Coordenação de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luana Janaína Souza
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: Sergio de Almeida
authors.initials: Sde A
authors.lastname: Basano
authors.forename: Juliana de Souza Almeida Aranha
authors.initials: Jde S
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: Andonai Krauze de
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Ricardo de Godoi Mattos
authors.initials: Rde G
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Almeida Andrade
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Casseb
authors.forename: Jansen Fernandes
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fontes
authors.forename: Luís Marcelo Aranha
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Camargo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008366:Mansonella / Q000235:genetics*; D008368:Mansonelliasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity