title: The use of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) to detect the re-emerging Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) in the Luangwa and Zambezi valleys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel strategy which amplifies DNA with high sensitivity and rapidity under isothermal conditions. In the present study, the performance of the repetitive insertion mobile element (RIME)-LAMP and human serum resistance-associated gene (SRA)-LAMP assays were evaluated using clinical specimens obtained from four male patients from Luangwa and Zambezi valleys in Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cases reported in this preliminary communication were all first diagnosed by microscopy, through passive surveillance, and confirmed by both RIME-LAMP and SRA-LAMP. A good correlation between microscopy and LAMP was observed and contributed to staging and successful treatment of patient. RIME-LAMP and SRA-LAMP complimented each other well in all the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both RIME-LAMP and SRA-LAMP were able to detect Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense DNA in patient blood and CSF and hence confirmed HAT in the parasitaemic patients. Our study indicates that the LAMP technique is a potential tool for HAT diagnosis, staging and may be useful for making therapeutic decisions. However, no statistically significant conclusion may be drawn due to the limited sample size used in the present study. It is thus imperative to conduct a detailed study to further evaluate the potential of LAMP as a bedside diagnostic test for HAT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paraclinical studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. b.namangala@unza.zm
authors.forename: Boniface
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Namangala
authors.forename: Lottie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hachaambwa
authors.forename: Kiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kajino
authors.forename: Aaron S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mweene
authors.forename: Kyouko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashida
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simuunza
authors.forename: Humphrey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Simukoko
authors.forename: Kennedy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choongo
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chansa
authors.forename: Shabir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lakhi
authors.forename: Ladslav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moonga
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chota
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ndebe
authors.forename: Mutale
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nsakashalo-Senkwe
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chizema
authors.forename: Lackson
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kasonka
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology