Accuracy of commercial ELISA and ICT for screening schistosomiasis infections at a low endemicity area in Brazil.

Background: Control interventions recommended by the World Health Organization have successfully resulted in low-intensity schistosomiasis transmission areas. To achieve elimination of transmission, new diagnostic screening tools are needed to overcome less than adequate sensitivity of the currently used Kato-Katz faecal thick smear method. Ideally, in-house serological tests should be avoided due to not having a continuous supply of kits as would be necessary for large population studies.