EVALUATION OF LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION IN LAU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE NIGERIA

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) on Wuchereria bancrofti (microfilariae) after two rounds of combined Ivermectin and Albendazole distribution. A total of 221 participants were recruited in three communities in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State by convenience sampling method. Questionnaires and physical examinations were used to assess clinical manifestations associated with the infection. Blood samples were collected by finger prick method and stained with Giemsa stain for examination to establish the presence of W. bancrofti while immunochromatographic card test was performed to determine the presence of filarial antigen in serum. Previous data were used to determine the pre-drug prevalence of the parasite. The results showed that the drug did not significantly reduce the clinical manifestations reported among the patients. The microfilariae prevalence and microfilaria mean density after two rounds of drug administration was 19.5% and 1.49%, while the pre- MDA prevalence and microfilaria mean density was 27.8% and 2.44% respectively. There was a statistically significant decrease of microfilaria prevalence (P<0.05) after two rounds of MDA. There was no significant effect of MDA by age, sex and occupation-related microfilariae prevalence in the study area. In conclusion, the study reveals that microfilaria prevalence and load decreased after two rounds of MDA of combined Ivermectin and Albendazole distribution amongst the studied populations. Routine evaluation of the MDA is required to assess the impact of the drug for the eventual elimination of the infection.

DIAGNÓSTICO COMPARATIVO DE BRUCELOSIS MEDIANTE MÉTODOS SEROLÓGICOS Y MOLECULARES

Brucellosis is an infectious disease that limits livestock development and greatly affects the livestock economy, being considered one of the most important and widely distributed zoonoses worldwide. Early diagnosis of this disease is an essential tool in its control and eradication. The methods recognized by NOM-041-ZOO-1995, such as the card test and complement fixation, present limitations in the diagnosis, compared to the PCR molecular technique. In the present work, a comparative diagnosis of Brucella spp. was performed by PCR amplification of the gene coding for a protein located in the outer membrane (Omp2a) of Brucella spp. and serological tests in blood, milk and cheese samples from goats and cattle. The results showed a higher sensitivity in the detection by PCR technique, while the card test and complement fixation showed inconsistencies due to the occurrence of false positives and negatives. Based on the results, it is suggested to include the PCR technique in the Mexican Official Standard as an objective alternative in the routine diagnosis of brucellosis.

A Comparative Study of Diagnostic Methods of Malaria - Microscopy Versus Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Rajasthan

BACKGROUND Malaria is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world including India. Majority of malarial cases are found in countries where cost-effectiveness, diagnostic test performance ease, and trained personnel, are the most important considerations. We wanted to compare the two methods of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy in the diagnosis of malaria parasite infection. METHODS We studied 2,723 blood samples of patients who presented with signs and symptoms of malaria from out patient department (OPD) and various wards of Pacific Institute of Medical Science, Udaipur, Rajasthan, from Oct 2018 to Oct 2019. All samples obtained were first tested by RDTs and then the same samples were used to make peripheral blood film (PBF) for microscopy. RESULTS During the 1-year period, rapid card test method showed 178 positives for malarial parasite. Of these, 64 cases were positive for P. vivax and 108 cases for P. falciparum. Peripheral blood smear method showed 160 cases positive for malarial parasite. Of these, 55 cases were positive for P. vivax and 99 cases for P. falciparum and 6 cases of co-infection. PBF failed to detect 9 cases of P. vivax and 9 cases of P. falciparum which were positive by rapid card test. So, 18 cases reported PBF negative. Among these patients, there were 83 females and 95 males. Most affected age group was 16 – 30 years followed by 31 – 45 years. Maximum samples were from the month of October 19 with a positivity rate 35.4 %. CONCLUSIONS RDTs based on malaria antigen (whole blood) method is as specific and more sensitive than microscopy (which is being considered as the gold standard method). Peripheral blood smear method still remains superior for accurate species differentiation, quantitation of parasite and maintaining a permanent record. KEYWORDS Microscopy, Malaria, Rapid Diagnostic Tests

SCRUB TYPHUS INFECTION AMONG PUO CASES IN THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objectives: Scrub typhus is an acute, febrile, exanthematous illness. This disease is underdiagnosed in India due to its non-specific and varied clinical presentation, low index of suspicion among clinicians, and lack of diagnostic facilities. This study was carried out to know the seroprevalence of scrub typhus in children with PUO and to compare a rapid test with IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of scrub typhus. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted for a period of 1 year. The study population comprised mainly 280 young children attending pediatric OP and in patients admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital with fever and related symptoms. The serum samples were tested for Weil-Felix reaction, IgM ELISA, and rapid card test. Results: The mean age group of the study population was 7–9 years, of which 20 cases were positive. The major predisposing factor for scrub typhus infection was vegetation around houses. The sensitivity and specificity of both, card test and IgM ELISA, were 100%. Conclusion: In this study, 7.1% of febrile children were positive for scrub typhus. Leptospirosis, dengue, and typhoid were the common coinfections found in scrub typhus, positive children. Early identification of cases and treatment at the earliest will prevent complications.

Contribution of the classical polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of a HIV-1 infected patient in Benin: a case report

Background First ambitious target by 2020 of UNAIDS is that 90% of people living with HIV know their HIV status. In people older than 18 months of age, serological confirmation test is recommended to confirm HIV infection. Case presentation Here we report the case of a patient tested positive with HIV-1, ELISA, Murex® Ag⁄Ab Combination assay (OD450 = 0.802 and cutoff-OD = 0.279) and negative by using FIRST RESPONSE HIV1-2.O CARD TEST (version 2.0) RAPID HIV CARD TEST. Viral load performed with Cobas® TaqMan® 96/Cobas® Ampliprep® was 6.49log10. The virus could be sequenced in partial gag and pol genes and belonged to CRF02_AG clade. Conclusion Conventional PCR is a complementary method for the diagnosis of inconclusive HIV-1 serologies by antibodies.

Performance of the BinaxNOW coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Antigen Card test relative to the severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay among symptomatic and asymptomatic healthcare employees

The sensitivity of the BinaxNOW coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Ag Card test (BinaxNOW) was 51.6% among asymptomatic healthcare employees relative to real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). The odds of a positive BinaxNOW test decreased as cycle threshold value increased. BinaxNOW could facilitate rapid detection and isolation of asymptomatically infected persons in some settings while rRT-PCR results are pending.