scholarly journals Utility of forensic detection of rabies virus in decomposed exhumed dog carcasses

2015 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanda Markotter ◽  
Jessica Coertse ◽  
Kevin Le Roux ◽  
Joey Peens ◽  
Jacqueline Weyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rabies Virus ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Diagnostic Method ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Brain Material ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Genomic Material

This report describes four suspected rabies cases in domestic dogs that were involved inhuman exposures. In all these cases, the animals were buried for substantial times beforerabies testing was performed. Animal rabies is endemic in South Africa and domestic dogsare the main vector for transmission to humans. Diagnosis of rabies in humans is complicated,and diagnosis in the animal vector can provide circumstantial evidence to support clinicaldiagnosis of rabies in humans. The gold standard diagnostic method, fluorescent antibodytest (FAT), only delivers reliable results when performed on fresh brain material and thereforedecomposed samples are rarely submitted for diagnostic testing. Severely decomposed brainmaterial was tested for the presence of rabies virus genomic material using a quantitativereal-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (q-real-time RT-PCR) assaywhen conventional molecular methods were unsuccessful. This may be a useful tool in theinvestigation of cases where the opportunity to sample the suspected animals post mortem wasforfeited and which would not be possible with conventional testing methodologies becauseof the decomposition of the material.

scholarly journals Current Avenues for COVID-19 Serology

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (02) ◽  
pp. 087-090
Author(s):  
Saumya Srivastava ◽  
Vidhi Jain ◽  
Vijaya Lakshmi Nag ◽  
Sanjeev Misra ◽  
Kuldeep Singh
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Polymerase Chain

AbstractDevelopment of rapid, reliable, and easy diagnostic tests with high-throughput is the need of the hour for laboratories combating the COVID-19 pandemic. While real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for diagnosing active infections, it is expensive and time-consuming. Serological diagnostic assays with a premise to aid rapid contact tracing, immune status determination, and identification of potential convalescent plasma donors hold great promise. Timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and future prevention are key to management of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Retrospective observational RT-PCR analyses on 688 babies born to 843 SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers, placental analyses and diagnostic analyses limitations suggest vertical transmission is possible.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bahadur ◽  
M. Bhat ◽  
S. Acharya ◽  
D. Janga ◽  
B. Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Placental Pathology ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Serial Testing ◽  
Medical Termination ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Positive Results

Research question: Is there vertical transmission (from mother to baby antenatally or intrapartum) after SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infected pregnancy? Study design: A systematic search related to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), pregnancy, neonatal complications, viral and vertical transmission. The duration was from December 2019 to May 2020. Results: A total of 84 studies with 862 COVID positive women were included. Two studies had ongoing pregnancies while 82 studies included 705 babies, 1 miscarriage and 1 medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP). Most publications (50/84, 59.5%), reported small numbers (<5) of positive babies. From 75 studies, 18 babies were COVID-19 positive. The first reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic test was done in 449 babies and 2 losses, 2nd RT-PCR was done in 82 babies, IgM tests were done in 28 babies, and IgG tests were done in 28 babies. On the first RT-PCR, 47 studies reported time of testing while 28 studies did not. Positive results in the first RT-PCR were seen in 14 babies. Earliest tested at birth and the average time of the result was 22 hours. Three babies with negative first RT-PCR became positive on the second RT-PCR at day 6, day 7 and at 24 hours which continued to be positive at 1 week. Four studies with a total of 4 placental swabs were positive demonstrating SARS-CoV-2 localised in the placenta. In 2 studies, 10 tests for amniotic fluid were positive for SARS-CoV-2. These 2 babies were found to be positive on RT-PCR on serial testing. Conclusion: Diagnostic testing combined with incubation period and placental pathology indicate a strong likelihood that intrapartum vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) from mother to baby is possible.

scholarly journals Performance comparison of two malaria rapid diagnostic test with real time polymerase chain reaction and gold standard of microscopy detection method

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Puspa Wardhani ◽  
Trieva Verawaty Butarbutar ◽  
Christophorus Oetama Adiatmaja ◽  
Amarensi Milka Betaubun ◽  
Nur Hamidah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Detection Method ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Background: The diagnostic test for malaria is mostly based on Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and detection by microscopy. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is also a sensitive detection method that can be considered as a diagnostic tool. The outcome of malaria microscopy detection depends on the examiner's ability and experience. Some RDT has been distributed in Indonesia, which needs to be evaluated for their results. Objective: This study aimed to compare the performance of RightSign RDT and ScreenPlus RDT for detection of Plasmodium in human blood. We used specific real-time polymerase chain reaction abTESTMMalaria qPCRII) and gold standard of microscopy detection method to measure diagnostic efficiency. Methods: Blood specimens were evaluated using RightSign RDT, ScreenPlus RDT, Microscopy detection, and RT-PCR as the protocol described. The differences on specificity (Sp), sensitivity (Sn), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were analyzed using McNemar and Kruskal Wallis analysis. Results: A total of 105 subjects were recruited. Based on microscopy test, RightSign RDT had sensitivity, Specificity, PPV, NPV, 100%, 98%, 98.2%, 100%, respectively. ScreenPlus showed 100% sensitivity, 98% specificity, 98.2% PPV, 100% NPV. The sensitivity of both RDTs became lower (75%) and the specificity higher (100 %) when using real-time PCR. Both RDTs showed a 100% agreement. RT-PCR detected higher mix infection when compared to microscopy and RDTs. Conclusion: RightSign and ScreenPlus RDT have excellent performance when using microscopy detection as a gold standard. Real-time PCR method can be considered as a confirmation tool for malaria diagnosis.

scholarly journals The Value of Pre-operative Testing for COVID-19 in Urological Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. e29-e34
Author(s):  
Vasileios Bonatsos ◽  
Asif Raza
Keyword(s):  
Gold Standard ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
The World ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Pcr Assays

According to the World Health Organisation there have been 30,055,710 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 933,433 confirmed deaths across 216 countries globally. The availability of the complete SARS-CoV-2 genome relatively early in the epidemic has enabled the development of tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19. There are two broad categories of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests currently in use or development: (1) Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and (2) serology tests. RT-PCR is considered the gold standard and preferred method of diagnosis of acute infection. There is, however, a plethora of laboratory-developed and commercial RT-PCR assays with different gene targets. We discuss the value of pre-operative testing for COVID-19 before urological surgery.

scholarly journals Dynamic Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR status on Chest Radiographs using Deep Learning Enabled Radiogenomics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Hang Keith Chiu ◽  
Dmytro Poplavskiy ◽  
Sailong Zhang ◽  
Philip Leong Ho Yu ◽  
Michael D. Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Chest Imaging ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Dynamic Prediction ◽  
Specialized Equipment ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but requires specialized equipment and reagents and suffers from long turnaround times. While valuable, chest imaging currently only detects COVID-19 pneumonia, but if it can predict actual RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 status is unknown. Radiogenomics may provide an effective and accurate RT-PCR-based surrogate. We describe a deep learning radiogenomics (DLR) model (RadGen) that predicts a patient's RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 status solely from their frontal chest radiograph (CXR).

scholarly journals Importation of canid rabies in a horse relocated from Zimbabwe to South Africa : research communication

2005 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C.T. Sabeta ◽  
J.L. Randles
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rabies Virus ◽  
Fluorescent Antibody ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Training Centre ◽  
Polymerase Chain

In July 2003 a 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt was imported from Harare, Zimbabwe to the Ashburton Training Centre, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Five months after importation, the colt presented with clinical signs suggestive of rabies: it was uncoordinated, showed muscle tremors and was biting at itself. Brain tissue was submitted for analysis and the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the fluorescent antibody test and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the cytoplasmic domain of the glycoprotein and the G-L intergenic region of the rabies virus confirmed it to be an infection with a canid rabies virus, originating from an area in Zimbabwe endemic for the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and side-striped jackal (Canis adustus) rabies.

Occurrence, diagnosis and follow-up of canine strongyloidiosis in naturally infected shelter dogs

Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Iatta ◽  
Dora Buonfrate ◽  
Paola Paradies ◽  
Maria Alfonsa Cavalera ◽  
Antonio Capogna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Method ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Animal Medicine ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
Polymerase Chain

AbstractStrongyloidiosis by Strongyloides stercoralis is a disease of increasing interest in human and animal medicine. The scientific knowledge on canine strongyloidiosis is hindered by the poor diagnostics available. To assess the most sensitive and specific diagnostic method, feces and blood from 100 shelter dogs were screened for S. stercoralis by coprological, molecular and serological tests. Thirty-six dogs (36%) scored positive to S. stercoralis by coprology (22.3% to Baermann) and/or 30% to real time-polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). According to two composite reference standards (CRS) based on all coprological methods and rt-PCR (first CRS) or in combination with serology (second CRS), the most sensitive test was IFAT (93.8%; CI 82.8–98.7), followed by rt-PCR (80.6%; 95% CI 64–91.8) and Baermann (60.6%; 95% CI 42.1–77.1). The inconsistent shedding of L1 during the 4-week follow-up in infected dogs suggests the importance of multiple faecal collections for a reliable diagnosis. A combination of serological and coprological tests is recommended for the surveillance and diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection in dogs.

scholarly journals Evaluation of two fluorescence immunoassays for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen—new tool to detect infective COVID-19 patients

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10801
Author(s):  
Lorena Porte ◽  
Paulette Legarraga ◽  
Mirentxu Iruretagoyena ◽  
Valeska Vollrath ◽  
Gabriel Pizarro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Diagnostic Method ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
The World ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Potential Use

Background Real-Time Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is currently the only recommended diagnostic method for SARS-CoV-2. However, rapid immunoassays for SARS-CoV-2 antigen could significantly reduce the COVID-19 burden currently weighing on laboratories around the world. Methods We evaluated the performance of two rapid fluorescence immunoassays (FIAs), SOFIA SARS Antigen FIA (Quidel Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA) and STANDARD F COVID-19 Ag FIA (SD Biosensor Inc., Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea), which use an automated reader. The study used 64 RT-PCR characterized clinical samples (32 positive; 32 negative), which consisted of nasopharyngeal swabs in universal transport medium. Results Of the 32 positive specimens, all from patients within 5 days of symptom onset, the Quidel and SD Biosensor assays detected 30 (93.8%) and 29 (90.6%) samples, respectively. Among the 27 samples with high viral loads (Ct ≤ 25), the two tests had a sensitivity of 100%. Specificity was 96.9% for both kits. Conclusion The high performance of the evaluated FIAs indicates a potential use as rapid and PCR-independent tools for COVID-19 diagnosis in early stages of infection. The excellent sensitivity to detect cases with viral loads above ~106 copies/mL (Ct values ≤ 25), the estimated threshold of contagiousness, suggests that the assays might serve to rapidly identify infective individuals.

scholarly journals AI-Assisted CT as a Clinical and Research Tool for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zion Tsz Ho Tse ◽  
Sierra Hovet ◽  
Hongliang Ren ◽  
Tristan Barrett ◽  
Sheng Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Clinical Classification ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Pcr Test

There is compelling support for widening the role of computed tomography (CT) for COVID-19 in clinical and research scenarios. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis, has two potential weaknesses: the delay in obtaining results and the possibility of RT-PCR test kits running out when demand spikes or being unavailable altogether. This perspective article discusses the potential use of CT in conjunction with RT-PCR in hospitals lacking sufficient access to RT-PCR test kits. The precedent for this approach is discussed based on the use of CT for COVID-19 diagnosis and screening in the United Kingdom and China. The hurdles and challenges are presented, which need addressing prior to realization of the potential roles for CT artificial intelligence (AI). The potential roles include a more accurate clinical classification, characterization for research roles and mechanisms, and informing clinical trial response criteria as a surrogate for clinical outcomes.

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