Smith College
STH Diagnostic Comparison: PCR vs. Kato-Katz, Uganda
To determine if a standardized multi-parallel-PCR assay is a more sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Schistosoma mansoni prevalence compared to the Kato-Katz stool test.
Impact of Malaria Vector Control & Status of Lymphatic Filariasis Transmission in the Lake Zone of Tanzania
To assess filarial exposure in the study population and mosquito infection status prior to and after the start of intensified malaria control interventions.
Laboratory analysis of Ov16 ELISA and Skin snip PCR to support surveillance activities in National programs. Multi-country comparison of diagnostic tools to detect Onchocerca volvulus.
To compare the performance of the diagnostic tools currently available for O. volvulus in terms of their relative sensitivity, species-specificity and practical use by countries. Comparison of the utility of these tools for mapping and surveillance in settings with different levels of endemicity for onchocerciasis (Oncho), lymphatic filariasis (LF) and/or loiasis.
Comparison of Kato-Katz and PCR for STH
To compare the sensitivity of double-slide Kato-Katz and multi-parallel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the detection of Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris infection among children in rural Bangladesh
Comparison of muti-parallel qPCR and Kato-Katz for detection of STH in Kenyan children
Is the multiparallel quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique superior to Kato-Katz microscopy in assessing the intensity and prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in stool?
Preliminary Findings and Lessons Learned
- qPCR was more sensitive than Kato-Katz at detecting Ascaris, Trichuris, and hookworm infections in child fecal samples.
- Very few samples were helminth positive by Kato-Katz microscopy that were not also positive by qPCR, suggesting minimal human classification error during microscopy.
- Duplicate qPCR analysis on ~10% of samples by two separate labs (Smith and KEMRI) showed excellent concordance (97-100% agreement for each helminth species).
- A reanalysis of the effect of a combined water, sanitation, and hand washing (WASH) intervention on child helminth infections with qPCR data compared to Kato-Katz data gave very similar results.
Defining the Profile of LF Antibody Reactivity following MDA
Determine age-specific prevalence of LF Antibody following MDA to inform surveillance strategies.