scholarly journals Evaluating the diagnostic test accuracy of molecular xenomonitoring methods for characterising the community burden of Onchocerciasis

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. e0009812
Author(s):  
Joseph Pryce ◽  
Thomas R. Unnasch ◽  
Lisa J. Reimer

Background Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), the detection of parasite nucleic acid in the vector population, is recommended for onchocerciasis surveillance in elimination settings. However, the sensitivity of MX for detecting onchocerciasis-positive communities has not previously been evaluated. MX may have additional applications for control programmes but its utility is restricted by a limited understanding of the relationship between MX results and human prevalence. Methods We conducted a systematic review of studies reporting the prevalence of Onchocerca volvulus DNA in wild-caught Simulium spp. flies (MX rate) and corresponding prevalence of microfilaria (mf) in humans. We evaluated the sensitivity of MX for detecting onchocerciasis-positive communities and describe the characteristics of studies with reduced sensitivity. We conducted a linear regression to evaluate the relationship between mf prevalence and MX rate. Results We identified 15 relevant studies, with 13 studies comprising 34 study communities included in the quantitative analyses. Most communities were at advanced stages towards elimination and had no or extremely low human prevalence. MX detected positive flies in every study area with >1% mf prevalence, with the exception of one study conducted in the Venezuelan Amazonian focus. We identified a significant relationship between the two measurements, with mf prevalence accounting for half of the variation in MX rate (R2 0.50, p<0.001). Conclusion MX is sensitive to communities with ongoing onchocerciasis transmission. It has potential to predict human mf prevalence, but further data is required to understand this relationship, particularly from MX surveys conducted earlier in control programmes before transmission has been interrupted.

Author(s):  
Joseph Pryce ◽  
Lisa J Reimer

Abstract Background Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), the detection of pathogen DNA in mosquitoes, is a recommended approach to support lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination efforts. Potential roles of MX include detecting presence of LF in communities and quantifying progress towards elimination of the disease. However, the relationship between MX results and human prevalence is poorly understood. Methods :We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis from all previously conducted studies that reported the prevalence of filarial DNA in wild-caught mosquitoes (MX rate) and the corresponding prevalence of microfilaria (mf) in humans. We calculated a pooled estimate of MX sensitivity for detecting positive communities at a range of mf prevalence values and mosquito sample sizes. We conducted a linear regression to evaluate the relationship between mf prevalence and MX rate. Results We identified 24 studies comprising 144 study communities. MX had an overall sensitivity of 98.3% (95% CI 41.5, 99.9%) and identified 28 positive communities that were negative in the mf survey. Low sensitivity in some studies was attributed to small mosquito sample sizes (&lt;1,000) and very low mf prevalence (&lt;0.25%). Human mf prevalence and mass drug administration status accounted for approximately half of the variation in MX rate (R 2 = 0.49, p&lt;0.001). Data from longitudinal studies showed that, within a given study area, there is a strong linear relationship between MX rate and mf prevalence (R 2 = 0.78, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion MX shows clear potential as tool for detecting communities where LF is present and as a predictor of human mf prevalence.


Parasitology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 613-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. RODRÍGUEZ-PÉREZ ◽  
R. DANIS-LOZANO ◽  
M. H. RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
T. R. UNNASCH ◽  
J. E. BRADLEY

Detection of Onchocerca volvulus larvae in vector populations is of prime importance in the assessment of the effectiveness of onchocerciasis control programmes. Traditionally, detection of larvae is attained by the dissection of flies, but this time-consuming method cannot easily discriminate between species of Onchocerca. The genome of all Onchocerca species has a unique 150 bp repeat, which can be amplified by PCR, and O. volvulus-specific DNA probes can detect these products by Southern blot (SB). This study optimizes a PCR/SB assay, and compares it with fly dissection to estimate the prevalence (p) and intensity of infection (m) in the local vector population of a Mexican community that has become hypoendemic as a result of 7 years of treatment with ivermectin and nodulectomy. The PCR detected 1 infected fly in a pool of 99 uninfected flies, but the optimal pool size was 50 flies. At the community level, 1 out of 10550 flies was positive (p=0·0095%, 95% confidence intervals CI=0·00024–07·05280%; m=0·00027 larvae/parous fly, CI=−0·00026–0·00081) by PCR, and 4 out of 10772 flies (p=0·0371%, CI=0·01012–0.09505%; m=0·00107 larvae/parous fly, 95% CI=0·00002–0·00212) by dissection (observed m=0·0005). Both methods produce statistically similar estimates of the prevalence and intensity, indicating that pool screening is a viable alternative for entomological surveillance in areas where the intensity of transmission is becoming extremely low as a result of control interventions.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Abdulla ◽  
Sue Hyeon Paek ◽  
Rodney Dishman ◽  
Bonnie Cramond ◽  
Mark A. Runco

2019 ◽  
pp. 121-143
Author(s):  
Riccardo Resciniti ◽  
Federica De Vanna

The rise of e-commerce has brought considerable changes to the relationship between firms and consumers, especially within international business. Hence, understanding the use of such means for entering foreign markets has become critical for companies. However, the research on this issue is new and so it is important to evaluate what has been studied in the past. In this study, we conduct a systematic review of e-commerce and internationalisation studies to explicate how firms use e-commerce to enter new markets and to export. The studies are classified by theories and methods used in the literature. Moreover, we draw upon the internationalisation decision process (antecedents-modalities-consequences) to propose an integrative framework for understanding the role of e-commerce in internationalisation


2016 ◽  
pp. 45-49
Author(s):  
P.N. Veropotvelyan ◽  
◽  
I.S. Tsehmistrenko ◽  
N.P. Veropotvelyan ◽  
N.S. Rusak ◽  
...  

Was to conduct a systematic review of data on the relationship between polymorphisms genes of detoxification system and development of preeclampsia (РЕ). Рresents the main genes of detoxification system (GSTPI, GSTМI, GSTТI, GРХI, ЕРНХI, SOD-2, SOD-3, CYPIAL, MTHЕR, MTR) and their functions. Of interest is the possibility of calculating the individual risk of PE based on the results about the presence of a combination of different polymorphisms in the genotype of the female. Question about early diagnosis of РЕ remains controversial and not fully understood. It is necessary to conduct further in-depth, extended study of this problem. Key words: preeclampsia, oxidative stress, genes of the detoxification system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (9) ◽  
pp. 118-126
Author(s):  
Augusty P. A ◽  
Jain Mathew

The study evaluates the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness through a Systematic Review of Literature. The relationship has been evaluated in two steps. First, a Systematic review of literature was done to provide a theoretical framework to link the dimensions of Emotional Intelligence to the elements of effective leadership. Meta-analysis was then used to consolidate empirical evidence of the relationship. The studies for the meta-analysis were sourced from Pro Quest and EBSCO and the correlation coefficients of the studies were analysed. Only articles that presented the direct relationship between the variables were included in the study. The results of the analysis revealed a strong, statistically significant relationship between emotional intelligence and effective leadership. The findings of the study provide evidence for the proposition that Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness are interrelated.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Carruthers ◽  
Gemma Brunetti ◽  
Susan Rossell

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are chronic and debilitating mental illnesses characterised by both cognitive impairments and sleep deficits. In this systematic review protocol, we outline an approach to examine the available literature investigating the relationship between sleep and cognition in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Dabiriyan Tehrani ◽  
Sara Yamini

This systematic review aimed to find attitudes toward Altruistic and Game-playing love styles across individualistic and collectivistic cultures. Addressing major moderators concerning Altruistic and Game-playing love styles are the secondary objectives of this review. This review included 102 articles comprising samples from 37 countries (N = 41997). The findings of this meta-analysis show that there is a collectivistic and individualistic difference in Game-playing but not in the Altruistic love style. Collectivistic and individualistic cultures, on average, demonstrate the same perception concerning the Altruistic love style, whereas collectivistic culture shows the Game-playing love style more strongly. To explain the role of moderators in key measures, the subgroup analysis and meta-regression show that both Game-playing and Altruistic love styles decline by increasing the length of the relationship. Likewise, having children affects these love styles such that the Altruistic love style is improved, and the Game-playing love style is reduced by the presence of children in families.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun Jae Moon ◽  
Jin Seub Hwang ◽  
Rajesh Kana ◽  
John Torous ◽  
Jung Won Kim

BACKGROUND Over the recent years, machine learning algorithms have been more widely and increasingly applied in biomedical fields. In particular, its application has been drawing more attention in the field of psychiatry, for instance, as diagnostic tests/tools for autism spectrum disorder. However, given its complexity and potential clinical implications, there is ongoing need for further research on its accuracy. OBJECTIVE The current study aims to summarize the evidence for the accuracy of use of machine learning algorithms in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Complete (with OpenDissertations), PsyINFO and IEEE Xplore Digital Library databases were searched on November 28th, 2018. Studies, which used a machine learning algorithm partially or fully in classifying ASD from controls and provided accuracy measures, were included in our analysis. Bivariate random effects model was applied to the pooled data in meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was used to investigate and resolve the source of heterogeneity between studies. True-positive, false-positive, false negative and true-negative values from individual studies were used to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity values, draw SROC curves, and obtain area under the curve (AUC) and partial AUC. RESULTS A total of 43 studies were included for the final analysis, of which meta-analysis was performed on 40 studies (53 samples with 12,128 participants). A structural MRI subgroup meta-analysis (12 samples with 1,776 participants) showed the sensitivity at 0.83 (95% CI-0.76 to 0.89), specificity at 0.84 (95% CI -0.74 to 0.91), and AUC/pAUC at 0.90/0.83. An fMRI/deep neural network (DNN) subgroup meta-analysis (five samples with 1,345 participants) showed the sensitivity at 0.69 (95% CI- 0.62 to 0.75), the specificity at 0.66 (95% CI -0.61 to 0.70), and AUC/pAUC at 0.71/0.67. CONCLUSIONS Machine learning algorithms that used structural MRI features in diagnosis of ASD were shown to have accuracy that is similar to currently used diagnostic tools.


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