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MOLECULAR TECHNIQUE UTILISING SPUTUM FOR DETECTING WUCHERERIA BANCROFTI INFECTIONS IN MALINDI, KENYA

J. M. KAGAI, S. MPOKE, F. MULI, J. HAMBURGER, E. U. HAMBURGER

Abstract


Background: Lymphatic filariasis is a tropical parasitic disease which has been identified for elimination by 2020 through mass drugs administration. There is a major problem in its diagnosis and sensitive surveillance methods for monitoring the disease elimination programs need to be sought.
Objectives: To establish and evaluate the usefulness of a Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR assay employing sputum for diagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti infections in an endemic location.
Design: Community based samples collection and a molecular laboratory technologies study.
Setting: Mpirani, Malindi District and Centre for Biotechnology Research and
Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute.
Subjects: Sputum samples were obtained from 304 willing and consenting participants, aged between 5 and 73 years resident in Mpirani, Malindi District.
Results: Prevalence of W. bancrofti infection was found to be 42.8% (130/304) by PCR assay employing sputum compared with 22.0 % (67/304) and 38.8% (119/304) respectively for microfilaria counts and ICT. The sensitivity and specificity of the PCR sputum assay was 97.5 and 92.4% respectively. Predictive values were 89.2 and 98.3% for positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) respectively while accuracy was 94.4%.
Conclusions: The molecular PCR assay using sputum was found to have a great potential for use in mass diagnosis and in epidemiological studies in patients with W. bancrofti infections

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The East African Medical Journal is published monthly by Kenya Medical Association.

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