scholarly journals A Correlative Study of Splenic Parasite Score and Peripheral Blood Parasite Load Estimation by Quantitative PCR in Visceral Leishmaniasis: TABLE 1

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 3905-3907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Medhavi Sudarshan ◽  
Toolika Singh ◽  
Jaya Chakravarty ◽  
Shyam Sundar
Keyword(s):  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Blood Parasite ◽  
Load Estimation ◽  
Invasive Procedures ◽  
Parasitological Diagnosis ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Severe Hemorrhage

Parasitological diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) by splenic smear is highly sensitive, but it is associated with the risk of severe hemorrhage. In this study, the diagnosis of VL using quantitative PCR (qPCR) in peripheral blood was evaluated in 100 patients with VL. Blood parasitemia ranged from 5 to 93,688 leishmania parasite genomes/ml of blood and positively correlated with splenic score (P< 0.0001;r2= 0.58). Therefore, quantification of parasite genomes by qPCR can replace invasive procedures for diagnostic and prognostic evaluations.

scholarly journals Could kDNA-PCR in Peripheral Blood Replace the Examination of Bone Marrow for the Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis?

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Souza de Godoy ◽  
Marcos Luiz Alves Andrino ◽  
Regina Maia de Souza ◽  
Erika Gakiya ◽  
Valdir Sabbaga Amato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Buffy Coat ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Parasitological Examination ◽  
Parasitological Diagnosis ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the molecular (kDNA-PCR) and parasitological diagnosis in peripheral blood (PB) could replace the invasive and painful bone marrow collection (BM) in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). PB from suspected VL patients was evaluated by parasitological and molecular techniques using as the gold standard (GS) a combination of clinical, epidemiological, and immunochromatographic test (PB-rK39) results and parasitological examination of BM. Based on the GS, 38 samples from 32 patients were grouped: Group 1, 20 samples of VL cases, and Group 2, 18 samples of non-VL cases. In order to evaluate the parasitological and molecular techniques in PB, the samples were examined. From Group 1, PB kDNA-PCR was positive in 20 samples and in 19 of 20 in BM kDNA-PCR examination. However, the parasitological examination of buffy coat was insensitive, being able to detect only 4 cases from Group 1. All samples from Group 2 were negative. We concluded that, for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis, the parasitological examination of peripheral blood was not useful; however, molecular diagnosis by kDNA-PCR, performed in peripheral blood, could be useful to replace the parasitological examination of bone marrow.

scholarly journals Blood parasite load as an early marker to predict treatment response in visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luka Verrest ◽  
Anke E Kip ◽  
Ahmed Musa ◽  
Gerard J Schoone ◽  
Henk D F H Schallig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Blood Parasite ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Clinical Relapse ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Clinical Trial Simulations

Abstract Background In order to expedite the development of new oral treatment regimens for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), there is a need for early markers to evaluate treatment response and predict long-term outcomes. Methods Data from three clinical trials were combined in this study, where Eastern African VL patients received various antileishmanial therapies. Leishmania kinetoplast DNA was quantified in whole blood with real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) before, during and up to six months after treatment. The predictive performance of pharmacodynamic parameters for clinical relapse was evaluated using receiver-operating characteristic curves. Clinical trial simulations were performed to determine the power associated with the use of blood parasite load as a surrogate endpoint to predict clinical outcome at six months. Results The absolute parasite density on day 56 after start of treatment was found to be a highly sensitive predictor of relapse within six months of follow-up at a cut-off of 20 parasites/mL (AUC 0.92, specificity 0.91, sensitivity 0.89). Blood parasite loads correlated well with tissue parasite loads (ρ= 0.80) and with microscopy gradings of bone marrow and spleen aspirate smears. Clinical trial simulations indicated a &gt;80% power to detect a difference in cure rate between treatment regimens if this difference was high (&gt;50%) and when minimally 30 patients were included per regimen. Conclusion Blood Leishmania parasite load determined by qPCR is a promising early biomarker to predict relapse in VL patients. Once optimized, it might be useful in dose finding studies of new chemical entities.

Influence of parasite load on the diagnosis and occurrence of eosinophilia in alcoholic patients infected withStrongyloides stercoralis

2017 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.L.S. Silva ◽  
E.J. Inês ◽  
J.N. Souza ◽  
A.B.S. Souza ◽  
V.M.S. Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Eosinophil Count ◽  
Agar Plate ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Blood Eosinophil ◽  
Peripheral Blood Eosinophil ◽  
Blood Eosinophil Count ◽  
Parasitological Diagnosis ◽  
Larval Number

AbstractAlcoholic patients are more susceptible toStrongyloides stercoralisinfection. The chronic use of alcohol raises the levels of endogenous corticosteroids, which regulates the development of larvae and stimulates the differentiation of rhabditiform into infective filariform larvae, thus inducing internal autoinfection. Therefore, early diagnosis is important to prevent severe strongyloidiasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of parasitological methods, according to the parasite load and the number of stool samples, for diagnosis ofS. stercoralisinfection, as well the peripheral blood eosinophil count in alcoholic patients. A total of 330 patients were included in this study. The diagnosis was established using three parasitological methods: agar plate culture, Baermann–Moraes method and spontaneous sedimentation. Peripheral eosinophilia was considered when the level was >600 eosinophils/mm3. The agar plate culture (APC) had the highest sensitivity (97.3%). However, the analysis of multiple samples increased the sensitivity of all parasitological methods. The sensitivities of the methods were influenced by the parasite load. When the larval number was above 10, the sensitivity of APC was 100%, while in spontaneous sedimentation the sensitivity reached 100% when the larval number was above 50. In the present study, 15.4% of alcoholic patients infected withS. stercoralis(12/78) had increased peripheral blood eosinophil count (above 600 eosinophils/mm3). For an efficient parasitological diagnosis ofS. stercoralisinfection in alcoholic patients, repeated examination by two parasitological methods must be recommended, including agar plate culture due to its higher sensitivity. Moreover,S. stercoralisinfection was associated with eosinophilia, mostly in patients excreting up to 10 larvae/g faeces.

scholarly journals Comparison of leucocyte profiles between healthy children and those with asymptomatic and symptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Ahu Prah ◽  
Linda Eva Amoah ◽  
Matthew P. Gibbins ◽  
Yaw Bediako ◽  
Aubrey J. Cunnington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Peripheral Cell ◽  
Peripheral Blood Leucocyte ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background The immune mechanisms that determine whether a Plasmodium falciparum infection would be symptomatic or asymptomatic are not fully understood. Several studies have been carried out to characterize the associations between disease outcomes and leucocyte numbers. However, the majority of these studies have been conducted in adults with acute uncomplicated malaria, despite children being the most vulnerable group. Methods Peripheral blood leucocyte subpopulations were characterized in children with acute uncomplicated (symptomatic; n = 25) or asymptomatic (n = 67) P. falciparum malaria, as well as malaria-free (uninfected) children (n = 16) from Obom, a sub-district of Accra, Ghana. Leucocyte subpopulations were enumerated by flow cytometry and correlated with two measures of parasite load: (a) plasma levels of P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) as a proxy for parasite biomass and (b) peripheral blood parasite densities determined by microscopy. Results In children with symptomatic P. falciparum infections, the proportions and absolute cell counts of total (CD3 +) T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, CD19 + B cells and CD11c + dendritic cells (DCs) were significantly lower as compared to asymptomatic P. falciparum-infected and uninfected children. Notably, CD15 + neutrophil proportions and cell counts were significantly increased in symptomatic children. There was no significant difference in the proportions and absolute counts of CD14 + monocytes amongst the three study groups. As expected, measures of parasite load were significantly higher in symptomatic cases. Remarkably, PfHRP2 levels and parasite densities negatively correlated with both the proportions and absolute numbers of peripheral leucocyte subsets: CD3 + T, CD4 + T, CD8 + T, CD19 + B, CD56 + NK, γδ + T and CD11c + cells. In contrast, both PfHRP2 levels and parasite densities positively correlated with the proportions and absolute numbers of CD15 + cells. Conclusions Symptomatic P. falciparum infection is correlated with an increase in the levels of peripheral blood neutrophils, indicating a role for this cell type in disease pathogenesis. Parasite load is a key determinant of peripheral cell numbers during malaria infections.

scholarly journals Evaluation of qPCR on blood and skin microbiopsies, peripheral blood buffy coat smear, and urine antigen ELISA for diagnosis and test of cure for visceral leishmaniasis in HIV-coinfected patients in India: a prospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e042519
Author(s):  
Sophie I Owen ◽  
Sakib Burza ◽  
Shiril Kumar ◽  
Neena Verma ◽  
Raman Mahajan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Bone Marrow Aspiration ◽  
Buffy Coat ◽  
Tropical Medicine ◽  
Urine Antigen ◽  
Antigen Elisa

IntroductionHIV coinfection presents a challenge for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Invasive splenic or bone marrow aspiration with microscopic visualisation of Leishmania parasites remains the gold standard for diagnosis of VL in HIV-coinfected patients. Furthermore, a test of cure by splenic or bone marrow aspiration is required as patients with VL-HIV infection are at a high risk of treatment failure. However, there remain financial, implementation and safety costs to these invasive techniques which severely limit their use under field conditions.Methods and analysisWe aim to evaluate blood and skin qPCR, peripheral blood buffy coat smear microscopy and urine antigen ELISA as non-invasive or minimally invasive alternatives for diagnosis and post-treatment test of cure for VL in HIV-coinfected patients in India, using a sample of 91 patients with parasitologically confirmed symptomatic VL-HIV infection.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study has been granted by The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, the University of Antwerp and the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science in Patna. Any future publications will be published in open access journals.Trial registration numberCTRI/2019/03/017908.

scholarly journals Experimental Evaluation of Second-Line Oral Treatments of Visceral Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania infantum

1999 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Gangneux ◽  
Michael Dullin ◽  
Annie Sulahian ◽  
Yves Jean-Francois Garin ◽  
Francis Derouin
Keyword(s):  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Experimental Evaluation ◽  
Leishmania Infantum ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Meglumine Antimoniate ◽  
Marked Activity

ABSTRACT In a murine model of Leishmania infantum visceral leishmaniasis, metronidazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine were less effective than antimonial agents in reducing hepatic parasite load. Ketoconazole potentiated the effect of meglumine antimoniate reference therapy through its marked activity against spleen infection.

Carotenoid-based plumage colouration in red bishops (Euplectes orix) — signalling presence rather than quality?

Behaviour ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 148 (11-13) ◽  
pp. 1372-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice U. Edler ◽  
Thomas W.P. Friedl
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Blood Parasite ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Male Quality ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Breeding Plumage

AbstractThe role of bright plumage colouration for female choice has been the focus of research in sexual selection for many years, with several studies showing that females prefer the most elaborately ornamented males, which are often also the highest quality individuals. Here, we analysed the associations between reproductive performance and plumage, body condition and blood parasite load in the red bishop (Euplectes orix), a sexually dimorphic and polygynous weaverbird species, where males in a carotenoid-based orange-to-red breeding plumage defend territories and build many nests to which they try to attract females. Male reproductive success in terms of number of nests accepted was mainly determined by the number of nests built, but was also positively related to blood parasite load, while we found no influence of plumage characteristics. Together with previously obtained data, our results indicate that plumage characteristics in the red bishop do not affect male reproductive success and are generally not suitable to reliably indicate male quality. We suggest that the primary function of the brilliant orange-scarlet breeding plumage might be presence signalling in terms of increasing conspicuousness of breeding males to females searching for mates.

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