Mini-FLOTAC, an Innovative Direct Diagnostic Technique for Intestinal Parasitic Infections: Experience from the Field
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND Soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa infection are widespread in developing countries, yet an accurate diagnosis is rarely performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recently developed mini-FLOTAC method and to compare with currently more widely used techniques for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections in different settings. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The study was carried out in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, and in Bukumbi, Tanzania. A total of 180 pupils from two primary schools had their stool analyzed (n = 80 in Dharamsala and n = 100 in Bukumbi) for intestinal parasitic infections with three diagnostic methods: direct fecal smear, formol-ether concentration method (FECM) and mini-FLOTAC. Overall, 72% of the pupils were positive for any intestinal parasitic infection, 24% carried dual infections and 11% three infections or more. The most frequently encountered intestinal parasites were Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia intestinalis, hookworm, (and Schistosoma mansoni, in Tanzania). Statistically significant differences were found in the detection of parasitic infections among the three methods: mini-FLOTAC was the most sensitive method for helminth infections (90% mini-FLOTAC, 60% FECM, and 30% direct fecal smear), whereas FECM was most sensitive for intestinal protozoa infections (88% FECM, 70% direct fecal smear, and 68% mini-FLOTAC). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE We present the first experiences with the mini-FLOTAC for the diagnosis of intestinal helminths and protozoa. Our results suggest that it is a valid, sensitive and potentially low-cost alternative technique that could be used in resource-limited settings--particularly for helminth diagnosis.
منابع مشابه
Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Rehabilitation Centers in Golestan Province, Iran
Abstract Background and Objective: Given the importance of having knowledge about intestinal parasitic infections in rehabilitation centers, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the disabled. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 196 stool specimens obtained from four rehabilitation centers in Golestan province, 2009. Tri...
متن کاملSensitivity of diagnostic tests for human soil-transmitted helminth infections: a meta-analysis in the absence of a true gold standard
Reliable, sensitive and practical diagnostic tests are an essential tool in disease control programmes for mapping, impact evaluation and surveillance. To provide a robust global assessment of the relative performance of available diagnostic tools for the detection of soil-transmitted helminths, we conducted a meta-analysis comparing the sensitivities and the quantitative performance of the mos...
متن کاملNew Diagnostic Insights for Macrorhabdus ornithogaster Infection.
The aim of this study was to propose the use of a new rapid and user-friendly diagnostic tool for the detection of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster infection in birds. The current report focuses on the diagnostic feasibility of different methods, with particular emphasis on the application of the mini-Flotac technique for the diagnosis of M. ornithogaster infection. The mini-Flotac method is particul...
متن کاملFrequency of Intestinal Parasites in Patients with Malignancy in Ardabil Province, Northwest Iran
Background: Despite continued and comprehensive planning of the world health organization (WHO), intestinal parasitic infections are a serious public problem in developing countries. Due to the high prevalence of cancers in Ardabil province and subsequently the high possibility of intestinal parasitic infections among the people, the aim of this study was to assess the frequency of intestinal p...
متن کاملA comparison of FLOTAC and CFF techniques in detecting gastrointestinal parasites in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).
The objective of the study was to compare the usefulness of FLOTAC and centrifugal fecal flotation (CFF) techniques. More specifically, the taxonomic classes (Nematoda and Cestoda) of endoparasites present in fecal samples of buffaloes are identified, the sensitivity and specificity of FLOTAC relative to CFF are calculated, and the agreement of both techniques is evaluated using Kappa statistic...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
عنوان ژورنال:
دوره 7 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2013