BACKGROUND Currently, no dengue NS1 detection kit has regulatory approval for the diagnosis of acute dengue fever. Here we report the sensitivity and specificity of the InBios DEN Detect NS1 ELISA using a panel of well characterized human acute fever serum specimens. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The InBios DENV Detect NS1 ELISA was tested using a panel composed of 334 serum specimens collec...

The retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor is a nuclear phosphoprotein important for cell growth control and able to bind specifically to viral oncoproteins such as the SV40 large tumor antigen (T-ag). Human RB possesses a bipartite nuclear localization sequence (NLS) consisting of two clusters of basic amino acids within amino acids 860-877, also present in mouse and Xenopus homologs, which rese...

A simple lateral-flow assay (LFA) based on a monoclonal antibody (MAb 70-17) was developed for the detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) under nonlaboratory conditions. The LFA was evaluated with epithelial suspensions (n = 704) prepared from current and historical field samples which had been submitted to the Pirbright Laboratory (United Kingdom) and from negative samples (n = 100) ...

BACKGROUND A number of studies document the prevalence of Taenia solium infections in Nigeria, yet these studies do not cover porcine cysticercosis in private home slaughter slabs where there is no routine meat inspection and backyard pig keeping, slaughtering and sale are common practice. METHODS An environmental and sanitary assessment was conducted within two unregistered home pig slaughte...

OBJECTIVE(S) Since each unit of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) is obtained from different blood donors, blood-borne viral diseases is of high importance. We aimed at investigating the prevalence of various viral infections: Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-I), Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among patients referred for IVIG therapy sec...

OBJECTIVE The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) ascites is problematic. Delay in the diagnosis and treatment of TB ascites are considered to be major factors that contribute to the high mortality of TB. This study identifies specific protein markers in ascitic fluid which will be useful in diagnosis of TB ascites. METHODS We used Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis, liquid chromatography-mass spectr...

Metalworking fluids (MWF) are responsible for hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). The aim of the present study was to identify the antigen (Ag) responsible for MWF-associated HP, and to optimise serological diagnosis by definition of a threshold allowing discrimination between HP patients and asymptomatic exposed workers. 13 patients, who were workers at a car engine manufacturing plant, were su...

Porcine cysticercosis (PC) caused by Taenia solium larvae is continuing being important zoonotic disease in many developing countries. It poses a serious public health risk and leads to economic losses to pig production industry. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with PC transmission in Nyasa District. To establish the prevalence of PC, a cross-s...