Mini-FLOTAC, an Innovative Direct Diagnostic Technique for Intestinal Parasitic Infections: Experience from the Field

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 diagno...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 7; no. 8; p. e2344
Main Authors: Barda, Beatrice Divina, Rinaldi, Laura, Ianniello, Davide, Zepherine, Henry, Salvo, Fulvio, Sadutshang, Tsetan, Cringoli, Giuseppe, Clementi, Massimo, Albonico, Marco
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.08.2013
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:
Adolescent
Animals
Child
Clinical Laboratory Techniques - economics
Clinical Laboratory Techniques - methods
Colleges & universities
Colorectal diseases
Costs and Cost Analysis
Cysts
Developing countries
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Tests, Routine - economics
Diagnostic Tests, Routine - methods
Eggs
Feces - parasitology
Female
Gastrointestinal diseases
Humans
India
Innovations
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - diagnosis
LDCs
Male
Medical tests
Medicine
Methods
Parasites
Parasites - classification
Parasites - isolation & purification
Parasitic diseases
Parasitology - economics
Parasitology - methods
Public health
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tanzania
Tropical diseases
Tanzania
India
Costs & Cost Analysis
Parasitology
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
Sensitivity & Specificity
Humans
Tanzania
Male
Parasites
India
Diagnostic Tests, Routine
Animals
Adolescent
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic
Female
Feces
Child
ISSN:1935-2735, 1935-2727, 1935-2735
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Description
Summary: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. 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). 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.
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I have read the journal's policy and have the following conflicts: Mini-FLOTAC and FILL-FLOTAC were invented and patented by Prof. Giuseppe Cringoli, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
Conceived and designed the experiments: BDB MA LR GC. Performed the experiments: BDB DI HZ. Analyzed the data: BDB LR MA DI. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: GC MC FS TS. Wrote the paper: BDB MA LR FS DI GC.
ISSN:1935-2735
1935-2727
1935-2735
DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002344