title: [Contribution of the PCR assay to the diagnosis of Mansonella ozzardi in endemic areas of Argentina].
abstract: Mansonella ozzardi is a tissue-dwelling parasitic nematode, the causative agent of mansonelliasis in almost all Latin American countries. It has been described along the Argentine Yungas region. The microscopic diagnosis can yield false-negative test results at low microfilaremia levels. The aim of this study was to optimize the molecular diagnostic technique and compare it with the Knott's method and standard blood smear procedures (thin blood films and thick smears) in 92 blood samples of individuals from an endemic area. The PCR technique followed by the sequencing of the amplified product yielded 100 % sensitivity compared to the Knott's test, which is considered a reference method. Seven more cases of this parasitosis could only be identified with the molecular technique.
authors.affiliation: Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán" Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Parasitología. Av. Vélez Sarsfield 563 (1281) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. mfdegese@anlis.gov.ar
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Degese
authors.forename: Marta G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Silvio J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Krivokapich
authors.forename: Lucia E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Irazu
authors.forename: Marcelo A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Eduardo A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Guarnera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001399:Azure Stains; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008366:Mansonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008368:Mansonelliasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000187:drug effects; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001399:Azure Stains; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D005557:Formaldehyde