title: Field evaluation of a PCR test for Schistosoma japonicum egg detection in low-prevalence regions of China.
abstract: Sensitive Schistosoma japonicum detection methods are needed to progress from schistosomiasis control to elimination. The sensitivity of the Kato-Katz thick smear and miracidium hatching tests decrease with infection intensity and serological tests cannot always identify current infections. We evaluated a fecal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect S. japonicum infection in 106 humans and 8 bovines in China. PCR was highly sensitive, detecting S. japonicum DNA at 0.5 eggs/g of stool. Comparing PCR examination of a single stool sample to the miracidium hatching test using three consecutive stool samples, more humans were hatching test positive (20%) than PCR positive (15%). However, two individuals were PCR positive in a village where no infections were detected by coprological methods. The sensitivity of PCR makes it a promising tool for schistosomiasis diagnostics and screening, although egg shedding variability and stool sample size present challenges for any detection method in low-transmission areas.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California-Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. maifung@berkeley.edu
authors.forename: Mai S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Carlton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity