Field-based evaluation of a reagent strip test for diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni by detecting circulating cathodic antigen in urine before and after chemotherapy.

Full Abstract

The sensitivity of a reagent strip test for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis by detecting circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in urine was evaluated under field conditions using 251 stool and urine samples collected from a Schistosoma mansoni-endemic area of Ethiopia. The specificity of the test was evaluated in an area where schistosomiasis is not endemic. Stool samples were examined microscopically using duplicate Kato slides and formol-ether concentration methods. The effectiveness of the test in monitoring efficacy was also evaluated following chemotherapy. The results revealed that detection of CCA in urine using the one-step reagent strip test was superior to the stool examination methods (P<0.05) in indicating the prevalence of the disease. Assuming the combination of parasitological test results as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 82.1% and 75.9%, respectively. The results of egg counts suggested the potential use of urine CCA in indicating the intensity of infection as an alternative to parasitological methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were 75% and 73.7%, respectively, following chemotherapy. Diagnosis of S. mansoni infection in urine using reagent strips would provide information on the prevalence of the disease, although further study is needed to improve its sensitivity and specificity.

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Author information

Author/s: Legesse, Mengistu (M); Erko, Berhanu (B);

Affiliation: Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. dlegessem(-atsign-)yahoo.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jul; vol 101 (issue 7) : pp 668-73

Dates: Created 2007/05/14; Completed 2007/11/06;

PMID: 17368699, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Anthelmintics - therapeutic use
Antigens, Helminth - urine
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Ethiopia - epidemiology
Feces - parasitology
Female

Female
Glycoproteins - urine
Helminth Proteins - urine
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Praziquantel - therapeutic use
Reagent Strips
Schistosomiasis mansoni - diagnosis; drug therapy; epidemiology; urine
Sensitivity and Specificity

Associated Chemicals: Anthelmintics (0) ; Antigens, Helminth (0) ; CCA protein, Schistosoma mansoni (0) ; Glycoproteins (0) ; Helminth Proteins (0) ; Reagent Strips (0) ; Praziquantel (55268-74-1)

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