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Options for field diagnosis of human african trypanosomiasis.
Clin Microbiol Rev. 2005 Jan; 18(1):133-46.CM

Abstract

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) due to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense or T. b. rhodesiense remains highly prevalent in several rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and is lethal if left untreated. Therefore, accurate tools are absolutely required for field diagnosis. For T. b. gambiense HAT, highly sensitive tests are available for serological screening but the sensitivity of parasitological confirmatory tests remains insufficient and needs to be improved. Screening for T. b. rhodesiense infection still relies on clinical features in the absence of serological tests available for field use. Ongoing research is opening perspectives for a new generation of field diagnostics. Also essential for both forms of HAT is accurate determination of the disease stage because of the high toxicity of melarsoprol, the drug most widely used during the neurological stage of the illness. Recent studies have confirmed the high accuracy of raised immunoglobulin M levels in the cerebrospinal fluid for the staging of T. b. gambiense HAT, and a promising simple assay (LATEX/IgM) is being tested in the field. Apart from the urgent need for better tools for the field diagnosis of this neglected disease, improved access to diagnosis and treatment for the population at risk remains the greatest challenge for the coming years.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Chappuis F
Travel and Migration Medicine Unit, Geneva University Hospital, 24 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. francois.chappuis@hcuge.ch
Loutan L
No affiliation info available
Simarro P
No affiliation info available
Lejon V
No affiliation info available
Büscher P
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AnimalsAntibodies, ProtozoanAntigens, ProtozoanCerebrospinal FluidHumansPolymerase Chain ReactionTrypanosoma brucei gambienseTrypanosoma brucei rhodesienseTrypanosomiasis, African

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

15653823

Citation

Chappuis, François, et al. "Options for Field Diagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis." Clinical Microbiology Reviews, vol. 18, no. 1, 2005, pp. 133-46.
Chappuis F, Loutan L, Simarro P, et al. Options for field diagnosis of human african trypanosomiasis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2005;18(1):133-46.
Chappuis, F., Loutan, L., Simarro, P., Lejon, V., & Büscher, P. (2005). Options for field diagnosis of human african trypanosomiasis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 18(1), 133-46.
Chappuis F, et al. Options for Field Diagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2005;18(1):133-46. PubMed PMID: 15653823.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Options for field diagnosis of human african trypanosomiasis. AU - Chappuis,François, AU - Loutan,Louis, AU - Simarro,Pere, AU - Lejon,Veerle, AU - Büscher,Philippe, PY - 2005/1/18/pubmed PY - 2005/3/16/medline PY - 2005/1/18/entrez SP - 133 EP - 46 JF - Clinical microbiology reviews JO - Clin Microbiol Rev VL - 18 IS - 1 N2 - Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) due to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense or T. b. rhodesiense remains highly prevalent in several rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and is lethal if left untreated. Therefore, accurate tools are absolutely required for field diagnosis. For T. b. gambiense HAT, highly sensitive tests are available for serological screening but the sensitivity of parasitological confirmatory tests remains insufficient and needs to be improved. Screening for T. b. rhodesiense infection still relies on clinical features in the absence of serological tests available for field use. Ongoing research is opening perspectives for a new generation of field diagnostics. Also essential for both forms of HAT is accurate determination of the disease stage because of the high toxicity of melarsoprol, the drug most widely used during the neurological stage of the illness. Recent studies have confirmed the high accuracy of raised immunoglobulin M levels in the cerebrospinal fluid for the staging of T. b. gambiense HAT, and a promising simple assay (LATEX/IgM) is being tested in the field. Apart from the urgent need for better tools for the field diagnosis of this neglected disease, improved access to diagnosis and treatment for the population at risk remains the greatest challenge for the coming years. SN - 0893-8512 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/15653823/Options_for_field_diagnosis_of_human_african_trypanosomiasis_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -