Improvement of a PCR test to diagnose infection by Mansonella ozzardi

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Luana Janaína Souza Vera, Sergio de Almeida Basano, Juliana de Souza Almeida Aranha Camargo, Andonai Krauze de França, Ricardo de Godoi Mattos Ferreira, Almeida Andrade Casseb, Jansen Fernandes Medeiros, Gilberto Fontes, Luís Marcelo Aranha Camargo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2011
• Subjects: Mansonella ozzardi; Diagnóstico; PCR; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822011000300023; https://doaj.org/article/57ebb68cb62849fea7b1f5da9e1f73c1

INTRODUCTION: Mansonelliasis is caused by Mansonella ozzardi. It is widespread in the Amazon region, with a high prevalence. The common exam of thick blood smears stained with Giemsa shows low efficacy levels and has been an obstacle to diagnosing individuals with low blood parasitemia. METHODS: In order to increase diagnosis efficacy, the PCR technique was improved. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: PCR demonstrated the best performance, with sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPV) of 100%, followed by blood filtration through membrane filters, which showed a sensitivity of 88.9% and a NPV of 84.6%, when compared to thick blood smears.