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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Mini-FLOTAC, an Innovative Direct Diagnostic Technique for Intestinal Parasitic Infections: Experience from the Field
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Volume 7, No. 8, Article e2344, Year 2013
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Description
Background:Soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa infection are widespread in developing countries, yet an accurate diagnosis is rarely performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recently developed mini-FLOTAC method and to compare with currently more widely used techniques for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections in different settings.Methodology/Principal Findings:The study was carried out in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, and in Bukumbi, Tanzania. A total of 180 pupils from two primary schools had their stool analyzed (n = 80 in Dharamsala and n = 100 in Bukumbi) for intestinal parasitic infections with three diagnostic methods: direct fecal smear, formol-ether concentration method (FECM) and mini-FLOTAC. Overall, 72% of the pupils were positive for any intestinal parasitic infection, 24% carried dual infections and 11% three infections or more. The most frequently encountered intestinal parasites were Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia intestinalis, hookworm, (and Schistosoma mansoni, in Tanzania). Statistically significant differences were found in the detection of parasitic infections among the three methods: mini-FLOTAC was the most sensitive method for helminth infections (90% mini-FLOTAC, 60% FECM, and 30% direct fecal smear), whereas FECM was most sensitive for intestinal protozoa infections (88% FECM, 70% direct fecal smear, and 68% mini-FLOTAC).Conclusion/Significance:We present the first experiences with the mini-FLOTAC for the diagnosis of intestinal helminths and protozoa. Our results suggest that it is a valid, sensitive and potentially low-cost alternative technique that could be used in resource-limited settings - particularly for helminth diagnosis. © 2013 Barda et al.
Available Materials
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3731229/bin/pntd.0002344.s001.doc
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3731229/bin/pntd.0002344.s002.docx
Authors & Co-Authors
Barda, Beatrice Divina
Italy, Milan
Irccs Ospedale San Raffaele
Rinaldi, Laura
Italy, Naples
Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico Ii
Ianniello, Davide
Italy, Naples
Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico Ii
Zepherine, Henry
Tanzania, Mwanza
Bukumbi Hospital
Salvo, Fulvio
Italy, Milan
Irccs Ospedale San Raffaele
Sadutshang, Tsetan Dorji
India, Dharamshala
Tibetan Delek Hospital
Cringoli, Giuseppe
Italy, Naples
Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico Ii
Clementi, Massimo
Italy, Milan
Irccs Ospedale San Raffaele
Albonico, Marco
Italy, Milan
Ivo de Carneri Foundation
Statistics
Citations: 151
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0002344
ISSN:
19352727
e-ISSN:
19352735
Study Locations
Tanzania