title: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Spliced Leader RNA Is a More Specific Marker for Cure of Human African Trypanosomiasis Than T. b. gambiense DNA.
abstract: To assess the efficacy of treatment for human African trypanosomiasis, accurate tests that can discriminate relapse from cure are needed. We report the first data that the spliced leader (SL) RNA is a more specific marker for cure of human African trypanosomiasis than parasite DNA. In blood samples obtained from 61 patients in whom human African trypanosomiasis was cured, SL RNA detection had specificities of 98.4%-100%, while DNA detection had a specificity of only 77%. Data from our proof-of-concept study show that SL RNA detection has high potential as a test of cure.
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l'Elevage en zones Subhumide, Unité de Recherches sur les Bases Biologiques de la Lutte Intégrée.
authors.forename: Hamidou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ilboudo
authors.affiliation: Ministère de la Santé et de l'Hygiène Publique, Programme National de Lutte contre la Trypanosomose Humaine Africaine, Conakry, Guinea.
authors.forename: Oumou
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.affiliation: Unité Mixte de Recherche IRD-CIRAD 177, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravel
authors.affiliation: Unité Mixte de Recherche IRD-CIRAD 177, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bucheton
authors.affiliation: Unité Mixte de Recherche IRD-CIRAD 177, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lejon
authors.affiliation: Ministère de la Santé et de l'Hygiène Publique, Programme National de Lutte contre la Trypanosomose Humaine Africaine, Conakry, Guinea.
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.affiliation: Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina-Faso.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaboré
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l'Elevage en zones Subhumide, Unité de Recherches sur les Bases Biologiques de la Lutte Intégrée.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jamonneau
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deborggraeve
mesh_terms: D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020038:RNA, Spliced Leader / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D020038:RNA, Spliced Leader
keywords: RNA; diagnosis; human African trypanosomiasis; specificity; test of cure