Mini-FLOTAC, an innovative direct diagnostic technique for intestinal parasitic infections: experience from the field.
BACKGROUND
Soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa infection are widespread in developing countries, yet an accurate diagnosis is rarely performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recently developed mini-FLOTAC method and to compare with currently more widely used techniques for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections in different settings.


RESULTS
The study was carried out in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, and in Bukumbi, Tanzania. A total of 180 pupils from two primary schools had their stool analyzed (n = 80 in Dharamsala and n = 100 in Bukumbi) for intestinal parasitic infections with three diagnostic methods: direct fecal smear, formol-ether concentration method (FECM) and mini-FLOTAC. Overall, 72% of the pupils were positive for any intestinal parasitic infection, 24% carried dual infections and 11% three infections or more. The most frequently encountered intestinal parasites were Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia intestinalis, hookworm, (and Schistosoma mansoni, in Tanzania). Statistically significant differences were found in the detection of parasitic infections among the three methods: mini-FLOTAC was the most sensitive method for helminth infections (90% mini-FLOTAC, 60% FECM, and 30% direct fecal smear), whereas FECM was most sensitive for intestinal protozoa infections (88% FECM, 70% direct fecal smear, and 68% mini-FLOTAC).


CONCLUSIONS
We present the first experiences with the mini-FLOTAC for the diagnosis of intestinal helminths and protozoa. Our results suggest that it is a valid, sensitive and potentially low-cost alternative technique that could be used in resource-limited settings--particularly for helminth diagnosis.
Laboratory of Microbiology San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. beatrice.barda@gmail.com
Beatrice Divina
BD
Barda
Laura
L
Rinaldi
Davide
D
Ianniello
Henry
H
Zepherine
Fulvio
F
Salvo
Tsetan
T
Sadutshang
Giuseppe
G
Cringoli
Massimo
M
Clementi
Marco
M
Albonico
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010274:Parasitology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013636:Tanzania