Combined Use of Real-time PCR and Serological Techniques for Improved Surveillance of Chronic and Acute American Trypanosomiasis in Dogs and Their Owners from an Endemic Rural Area of Neotropical Mexico

Overview

Journal Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis

Date 2023 Jan 2

PMID 36589870

Authors

Jose I Chan-Perez

Juan F J Torres-Acosta

Antonio Ortega-Pacheco

Ivonne B Hernandez-Cortazar

Nohemi Cigarroa-Toledo

Matilde Jimenez-Coello

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In this study, the prevalence of infection was estimated in dogs and their owners from a rural community in Mexico using serological techniques for chronic infection cases, qPCR for acute phase cases, and a combination of both techniques to detect chronic and acute infections. Eighty-nine blood samples were collected from owners and their dogs for obtaining serum and parasite DNA. Prevalence was calculated using (i) positive cases detected in a serological test (ELISA and Western blot), (ii) positive cases detected in a qPCR test, and (iii) positive cases detected by both techniques. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were determined individually for serology, qPCR and for both techniques used simultaneously. The prevalence observed varied: for serology, 25.8% of the dogs and 7.9% of the owners were seropositive, while for qPCR 29.2% of the dogs and 10.1% of the owners were identified as positive. Combination of serological and molecular techniques resulted in a prevalence of 38.2% for dogs and 12.4% for their owners. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values calculated for both techniques improved when both techniques were used simultaneously (sensitivity of 92.4% and specificity of 100% for infected dogs and sensitivity of 93.4% and specificity of 100% for infected owners). Combined use of serological tests and qPCR allowed identifying a greater number of positive cases in dogs and their owners. This strategy may help implement adequate and timely epidemiological surveillance of American trypanosomiasis in order to prevent the appearance of new cases of infections in endemic zones.

Citing Articles

Accuracy of Diagnostic Tests for the Detection of Chagas Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

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