title: Human Ascariasis: Diagnostics Update.
abstract: Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infect over one billion people worldwide. Ascariasis may mimic a number of conditions, and individual clinical diagnosis often requires a thorough work-up. Kato-Katz thick smears are the standard detection method forAscarisand, despite low sensitivity, are often used for mapping and monitoring and evaluation of national control programmes. Although increased sampling (number of stools) and diagnostic (number of examinations per stool) efforts can improve sensitivity, Kato-Katz is less sensitive than other microscopy methods such as FLOTAC®. Antibody-based diagnostics may be a sensitive diagnostic tool; however, their usefulness is limited to assessing transmission in areas aiming for elimination. Molecular diagnostics are highly sensitive and specific, but high costs limit their use to individual diagnosis, drug - efficacy studies and identification ofAscaris suum. Increased investments in research onAscarisand other STHs are urgently required for the development of diagnostic assays to support efforts to reduce human suffering caused by these infections.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG UK.
authors.forename: Poppy H L
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lamberton
authors.affiliation: Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG UK.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jourdan
keywords: Ascariasis; Ascaris; Diagnosis; Immunology; Microscopy; PCR