title: A conventional polymerase chain reaction-based method for the diagnosis of human schistosomiasis in stool samples from individuals in a low-endemicity area.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method to detect Schistosoma mansoni DNA in stool samples from individuals living in a low-endemicity area in Brazil. Of the 125 initial stool samples, 80 were ELISA reactive and eggs were identified in 19 of the samples by parasitological examination. For the PCR evaluations, 56 stool samples were selected and divided into five groups. Groups I-IV were scored negative for S. mansoni eggs by parasitological examination. Groups I and II were ELISA reactive, whereas Groups III and IV were ELISA nonreactive. Groups II and III were positive for other intestinal parasites. PCR testing scored eight samples as positive from these four groups. Group V represented the S. mansoni -positive group and it included ELISA-reactive samples that were scored positive for S. mansoni by one or more parasitological examinations (6/19 were positive by Kato-Katz method, 9/17 by saline gradient and 10/13 by Helmintex®). PCR scored 13 of these 19 samples as positive for S. mansoni . We conclude that while none of these methods yielded 100% sensitivity, a combination of techniques should be effective for improving the detection of S. mansoni infection in low-endemicity areas.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brasil, FortalezaCE.
authors.forename: Teiliane Rodrigues
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brasil, NiteróiRJ.
authors.forename: Regina Helena Saramago
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brasil, FortalezaCE.
authors.forename: Marta Cristhiany Cunha
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brasil, FortalezaCE.
authors.forename: Sara Menezes de
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: José Mauro
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brasil, FortalezaCE.
authors.forename: Fernando Schemelzer Moraes
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Bezerra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth