title: Evaluation of parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni in a low transmission area.
abstract: This study evaluated parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni. A population-based study was performed in 201 inhabitants from a low transmission locality named Pedra Preta, municipality of Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Four stool samples were analysed using two techniques, the Kato-Katz® (KK) technique (18 slides) and the TF-Test®, to establish the infection rate. The positivity rate of 18 KK slides of four stool samples was 28.9% (58/201) and the combined parasitological techniques (KK+TF-Test®) produced a 35.8% positivity rate (72/201). Furthermore, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA assay produced a positivity rate of 23.4% (47/201) using the first sample. All 72 patients with positive parasitological exams were treated with a single dose of Praziquantel® and these patients were followed-up 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment to establish the cure rate. Cure rates obtained by the analysis of 12 KK slides were 100%, 100% and 98.4% at 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment, respectively. PCR-ELISA revealed cure rates of 98.5%, 95.5% and 96.5%, respectively. The diagnostic and assessment of cure for schistosomiasis may require an increased number of KK slides or a test with higher sensitivity, such as PCR-ELISA, in situations of very low parasite load, such as after therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Esquistossomose, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Liliane Maria Vidal
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luciana Inácia
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Ribeiro de
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Esquistossomose, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Áureo Almeida de
authors.initials: ÁA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Martin Johannes
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Enk
authors.affiliation: Centro de Controle de Zoonoses, Montes Claros, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nídia Figueiredo
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabello
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Esquistossomose, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Paulo Marcos Zech
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D059208:Parasite Load; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel