Diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infections : what are the choices in Brazilian low-endemic areas?

• Autor(a) principal: Moraes, Vanessa Silva
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Shollenberger, Lisa Marie, Siqueira, Liliane Maria Vidal, Borges, William de Castro, Harn, Donald A., Grenfell, Rafaella Fortini Queiroz, Rabello, Ana Lúcia Teles, Coelho, Paulo Marcos Zech
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFOP
• Texto Completo: http://www.repositorio.ufop.br/handle/123456789/12120; https://doi.org/10.1590/0074-02760180478
• topic: Immunoassay; Point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen test - POC-CCA®

The population of Brazil is currently characterised by many individuals harbouring low-intensity Schistosoma mansoni infections. The Kato-Katz technique is the diagnostic method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess these infections, but this method is not sensitive enough in the context of low egg excretion. In this regard, potential alternatives are being employed to overcome the limits of the Kato-Katz technique. In the present review, we evaluated the performance of parasitological and immunological approaches adopted in Brazilian areas. Currently, the diagnostic choices involve a combination of strategies, including the utilisation of antibody methods to screen individuals and then subsequent confirmation of positive cases by intensive parasitological investigations.