The concentration McMaster method for diagnosis of patent Ascaris and Trichuris infections in humans

• Published in: International journal for parasitology Vol. 54; no. 13; pp. 717 - 722
• Main Authors: Kader, Sozan, Helmersen, Christine E., Thamsborg, Stig M., Erikstrup, Lise T., Nejsum, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2024
• Subjects: Ascaris lumbricoides; Kato-Katz; McMaster method; Soil transmitted helminths (STH); Trichuris trichiura; Ascaris lumbricoides; Kato-Katz; Soil transmitted helminths (STH); McMaster method; Trichuris trichiura
• ISSN: 0020-7519; 1879-0135; 1879-0135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.08.004

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•Comparison of three diagnostic methods for faecal egg count (FEC)•The Kato-Katz method yielded FEC values very close to the ’true’ spiking value.•The concentration McMaster method yielded FEC values closer to the ’true’ spiking value than the simple McMaster method.•The concentration McMaster method allowed sample storage at 5 °C for up to 14 days without affecting the FEC.•The concentration McMaster method was considerably easier to read compared with Kato-Katz.
In tropical and subtropical regions, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms have a significant impact on public health. Globally, A. lumbricoides infects approximately 0.8 billion people, while T. trichiura infects around 500 million. This study involved a comparison of three diagnostic methods, Kato-Katz and two flotation methods (concentration McMaster, and simple McMaster), for the detection of Ascaris and Trichuris in human faeces. We conducted a comparison of the number of eggs in faeces (or faecal egg counts (FECs)) obtained with these methods using freshly collected samples that were positive for T. trichiura and spiked with a known quantity of Ascaris sp. eggs. Additionally, for the concentration McMaster method we assessed FECs after storing the samples at 5 °C for up to 21 days. The concentration McMaster method demonstrated superiority over the simple McMaster method in terms of higher detection levels for both helminths, while the Kato-Katz method yielded FEC values very close to the ’true’ spiking values. Importantly, the concentration McMaster method was considerably easier to read compared with the Kato-Katz method, and it allowed for sample storage at 5 °C for up to 14 days without affecting FEC results. Consequently, we conclude that the concentration McMaster method is an effective and user-friendly alternative for diagnosis of Ascaris and Trichuris infections in humans. Furthermore, it offers the advantage of sample storage before analysis, enhancing flexibility in the workflow.