title: Schistosoma real-time PCR as diagnostic tool for international travellers and migrants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of a genus-specific PCR that combines high sensitivity with the detection of different Schistosoma species for diagnosis in international travellers and migrants in comparison to standard microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genus-specific real-time PCR was developed to target the 28S ribosomal RNA gene of the major human Schistosoma species. It was validated for analytical specificity and reproducibility and demonstrated an analytical sensitivity of 0.2 eggs per gram of faeces. Its diagnostic performance was further evaluated on 152 faecal, 32 urine and 38 serum samples from patients presenting at the outpatient clinic of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp (Belgium). We detected Schistosoma DNA in 76 faecal (50.0%) and five urine (15.6%) samples of which, respectively, nine and one were not detected by standard microscopy. Only two of the 38 serum samples of patients with confirmed schistosomiasis were positive with the presently developed PCR. Sequence analysis on positive faecal samples allowed identification of the Schistosoma species complex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The real-time PCR is highly sensitive and may offer added value in diagnosing imported schistosomiasis. The genus-specific PCR can detect all schistosome species that are infectious to humans and performs very well with faeces and urine, but not in serum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium  Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany  Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieselotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cnops
authors.forename: Egbert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tannich
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clerinx
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Esbroeck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000235:genetics*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D013045:Species Specificity; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S