Improvement of a PCR test to diagnose infection by Mansonella ozzardi

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 380 - 382
• Main Authors: Vera, Luana Janaína Souza, Basano, Sergio de Almeida, Camargo, Juliana de Souza Almeida Aranha, França, Andonai Krauze de, Ferreira, Ricardo de Godoi Mattos, Casseb, Almeida Andrade, Medeiros, Jansen Fernandes, Fontes, Gilberto, Camargo, Luís Marcelo Aranha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01-05-2011; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Animals; Diagnóstico; Humans; Mansonella - genetics; Mansonella ozzardi; Mansonelliasis - diagnosis; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction - economics; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Predictive Value of Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Diagnóstico; Diagnosis; Mansonella ozzardi; PCR
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849; 0037-8682
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86822011000300023

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.
In order to increase diagnosis efficacy, the PCR technique was improved.
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.