Background: To monitor the progress of lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination programmes, field surveys to assess filarial antigen (Ag) prevalence require access to reliable, user-friendly rapid diagnostic tests. We aimed to evaluate the performance of the new Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) with the currently recommended Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for detecting the Ag of Wuchereria bancrofti, the causative agent of LF, under field laboratory conditions.
Methodology/principal Findings: During an LF survey in Samoa, 344 finger-prick blood samples were tested using FTS and QFAT. Microfilariae (Mf) status was determined from blood slides prepared from any sample that reported Ag-positive by either Ag-test. Each test was re-read at 1 hour and the next day to determine the stability of results over time. Overall Ag-positivity by FTS was 29.0% and 30.2% by QFAT. Concordance between the two tests was 93.6% (kappa = 0.85). Of the 101 Mf slides available, 39.6% were Mf-positive, and all were Ag-positive by both tests. Darker test line intensities from Ag-positive FTS were found to predict Mf-positivity (compared to same/lighter line intensities). QFAT had significantly higher reported test result changes than FTS, mostly reported the next day, but fewer changes were reported between 10 minutes to 1hour. The field laboratory team preferred QFAT over FTS due to the smaller blood volume required, better usability, and easier readability.
Conclusion/significance: QFAT could be a suitable and user-friendly diagnostic alternative for use in the monitoring and surveillance of LF in field surveys based on its similar performance to FTS under field laboratory conditions.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11326698 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012386 | DOI Listing |
Trends Pharmacol Sci
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China. Electronic address:
The process by which cells translate external mechanical cues into intracellular biochemical signals involves intricate mechanisms that remain unclear. In recent years, research into post-translational modifications (PTMs) has offered valuable insights into this field, spotlighting protein prenylation as a crucial mechanism in cellular mechanotransduction and various human diseases. Protein prenylation, which involves the covalent attachment of isoprenoid groups to specific substrate proteins, profoundly affects the functions of key mechanotransduction proteins such as Rho, Ras, and lamins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHPB (Oxford)
December 2024
Institute for Surgical Pathology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Germany; Core Facility for Histopathology and Digital Pathology, University of Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address:
Background: In pancreatic surgery Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) represents the most dreaded complication, for which pancreatic texture is acknowledged as one of the strongest predictors. No consensual objective reference has been defined to evaluate the pancreas composition. The presented study aimed to mine histology data of the pancreatic tissue composition with AI assist and correlate it with clinic-pathological parameters derived from the RECOPANC study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8563, Chiba, Japan; Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8564, Chiba, Japan.
In recent decades, microplastics (MPs) have emerged as one of the biggest environmental challenges in aquatic environments. Ingestion and toxicity of MPs in seawater (SW) and freshwater (FW) fish have been studied extensively both in field and laboratory settings. However, the basic mechanism of how fish deal with MPs in SW and FW remains unclear, although physiological conditions of fish differ significantly in the two environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren'ai Road, Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, PR China. Electronic address:
Exogenous genes are inserted into target cells during gene therapy in order to compensate or rectify disorders brought on by faulty or aberrant genes. However, gene therapy is still in its early stages because of its unsatisfactory therapeutic effects which are mainly due to low transfection efficiency of vectors, high toxicity, and poor target specificity. A natural polymer with numerous bioactive sites, good mechanical qualities, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and processability called silk fibroin has gained attention as a possible gene therapy vector.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Glob Antimicrob Resist
January 2025
Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Objectives: In Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, emerging meropenem resistance beyond imipenem resistance has become a problem. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the in vivo acquisition of antimicrobial resistance in fluoroquinolone- and carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, the underlying molecular mechanisms, and exposure to antimicrobial agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!