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DNA Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control

Despite extensive efforts over the last few decades, the global disease burden of schistosomiasis still remains unacceptably high. This could partly be attributed to the lack of accurate diagnostic tools for detecting human and animal schistosome infections in endemic areas. In low transmission and...

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Autores principales: Weerakoon, Kosala G., Gordon, Catherine A., McManus, Donald P.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160968/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30274477
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed3030081
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author Weerakoon, Kosala G.
Gordon, Catherine A.
McManus, Donald P.
author_facet Weerakoon, Kosala G.
Gordon, Catherine A.
McManus, Donald P.
author_sort Weerakoon, Kosala G.
collection PubMed
description Despite extensive efforts over the last few decades, the global disease burden of schistosomiasis still remains unacceptably high. This could partly be attributed to the lack of accurate diagnostic tools for detecting human and animal schistosome infections in endemic areas. In low transmission and low prevalence areas where schistosomiasis elimination is targeted, case detection requires a test that is highly sensitive. Diagnostic tests with low sensitivity will miss individuals with low infection intensity and these will continue to contribute to transmission, thereby interfering with the efficacy of the control measures operating. Of the many diagnostic approaches undertaken to date, the detection of schistosome DNA using DNA amplification techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) provide valuable adjuncts to more conventional microscopic and serological methods, due their accuracy, high sensitivity, and the capacity to detect early pre-patent infections. Furthermore, DNA-based methods represent important screening tools, particularly in those endemic areas with ongoing control where infection prevalence and intensity have been reduced to very low levels. Here we review the role of DNA diagnostics in the path towards the control and elimination of schistosomiasis.
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spelling pubmed-61609682018-10-01 DNA Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control Weerakoon, Kosala G. Gordon, Catherine A. McManus, Donald P. Trop Med Infect Dis Review Despite extensive efforts over the last few decades, the global disease burden of schistosomiasis still remains unacceptably high. This could partly be attributed to the lack of accurate diagnostic tools for detecting human and animal schistosome infections in endemic areas. In low transmission and low prevalence areas where schistosomiasis elimination is targeted, case detection requires a test that is highly sensitive. Diagnostic tests with low sensitivity will miss individuals with low infection intensity and these will continue to contribute to transmission, thereby interfering with the efficacy of the control measures operating. Of the many diagnostic approaches undertaken to date, the detection of schistosome DNA using DNA amplification techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) provide valuable adjuncts to more conventional microscopic and serological methods, due their accuracy, high sensitivity, and the capacity to detect early pre-patent infections. Furthermore, DNA-based methods represent important screening tools, particularly in those endemic areas with ongoing control where infection prevalence and intensity have been reduced to very low levels. Here we review the role of DNA diagnostics in the path towards the control and elimination of schistosomiasis. MDPI 2018-08-01 /pmc/articles/PMC6160968/ /pubmed/30274477 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed3030081 Text en © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Review
Weerakoon, Kosala G.
Gordon, Catherine A.
McManus, Donald P.
DNA Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control
title DNA Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control
title_full DNA Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control
title_fullStr DNA Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control
title_full_unstemmed DNA Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control
title_short DNA Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control
title_sort dna diagnostics for schistosomiasis control
topic Review
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160968/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30274477
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed3030081
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