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Cunningham, Lucas, Nevin, William, Mason, Jessica, Adams, Emily 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0816-2835, Jones, Jeff, Woolley, Stephen, Lamb, L, Beeching, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7019-8791, Fletcher, Tom and O’Shea, MK
(2024)
'‘A comparative study of traditional and molecular diagnostic methods for detection of gastrointestinal parasites in Nepalese migrants to the UK’'. Journal of Infection, Vol 89, Issue 6, e106324.
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Abstract
Background
We evaluated the results of examining a single faecal sample for gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) using a combination of traditional methods with multiplex qPCR for helminths and protozoa, compared to a reference standard of examining three faecal samples from each person using traditional diagnostic methods alone.
Methods
Three faecal samples were collected at weekly intervals from 596 healthy Nepalese men. Each sample underwent formalin-ethyl acetate (FEA) concentration and light microscopy, and charcoal culture. The combined results of these investigations for all three stool samples were designated the reference standard. The first sample was also analysed using a multiplex TaqManTM qPCR assay, screening for five helminths and three protozoa. We compared sensitivity and specificity of analysing the first faecal sample with qPCR alone, or a hybrid approach combining qPCR with traditional methods, to the reference standard. Additionally, a serum sample was taken from each participant for Strongyloides stercoralis IgG ELISA.
Results
The reference standard identified 139 GIP infections in 133 (22.3%) participants. Use of qPCR alone in one stool identified 176 infections in 147 (24.8%) participants, rising to 187 infections in 156 (26.3%) when combined with FEA microscopy and charcoal culture. The sensitivity of this latter hybrid approach was 100% for Strongyloides spp., 90.9% for Trichuris trichiura, 86.8% for hookworm species and 75% for Giardia duodenalis compared to the reference standard. The hybrid approach increased the detected cases of G. duodenalis by 4.5% (46 cases) overall, T. trichiura by 2.9% (18 cases), Strongyloides spp. by 1% (6 cases), and hookworm by 0.5% (8 cases), compared to the reference standard.
Conclusion
Examination of a single faecal sample using qPCR alone showed superior or equivalent sensitivity to traditional methods for most GIP infections when both were compared to the reference standard. Combining molecular and traditional methods to analyse a single stool improved the detection rate for most studied parasites. This approach has value in settings where repeated sampling and/or faecal culture for helminths is impractical, but molecular diagnostics are available.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | QX Parasitology > QX 20 Research (General) WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 695 Parasitic diseases (General) WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 698 Parasitic intestinal diseases (General) |
| Faculty: Department: | Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology Biological Sciences > Vector Biology Department Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department |
| Digital Object Identifer (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106324 |
| SWORD Depositor: | JISC Pubrouter |
| Depositing User: | JISC Pubrouter |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Nov 2024 14:10 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Dec 2024 15:35 |
| URI: | https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/25498 |
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