Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease最新文献

{"title":"\"Time to Change\": To What Extent Could Non-Sputum Sampling Accelerate the Fight Against Tuberculosis-A Qualitative Study Among End-Users.","authors":"Vanessa Fargnoli, Hoang Thi My Hanh, Ly Na Hoang, Ananya Mahesh, Nasiphi Mqedlana-Ntombela, Jovitta Xavier, Mikashmi Kohli, Kavindhran Velen, Sonjelle Shilton","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020044","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inadequate access to timely diagnosis and linkage to treatment are major barriers to tuberculosis (TB) care. New point-of-care diagnostics that do not rely solely on sputum samples are needed to make up for lost time, bringing TB testing closer to service recipients and addressing current sputum sampling limitations. Urine-based TB lipoarabinomannan tests and tongue dorsum swabs have demonstrated potential as alternatives to sputum-based molecular testing. We conducted a study to ascertain the perceived value of these non-sputum-based TB tests among stakeholders from the TB community, including TB service recipients and healthcare providers, in India, South Africa, and Viet Nam. Our results showed that there was a high degree of enthusiasm among various end-users for both novel sample types. It is important to generate both qualitative and quantitative evidence to support optimal uptake and implementation of these potential new sample types for TB testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860771/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Schistosomiasis Burden and Trend Analysis in Africa: Insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.","authors":"Dandan Peng, Yajing Zhu, Lu Liu, Jianfeng Zhang, Peng Huang, Shaowen Bai, Xinyao Wang, Kun Yang","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020042","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern in Africa, despite global efforts to eliminate the disease by 2030. This study estimates the burden, trends, and inequalities of schistosomiasis in Africa from 1990 to 2021, and projects future prevalence to inform the WHO's elimination strategies. Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2021) were used to calculate annual average percentage change (AAPC) and annual percentage change (APC), with spatial global autocorrelation analysis performed to examine temporal and spatial trends. Five modeling algorithms were constructed to predict disease burden in Africa from 2022 to 2041. The age-standardized prevalences rate (ASPR) of schistosomiasis in Africa decreased from 18,495.51 per 100,000 in 1990 to 9,461.76 per 100,000 in 2021. The total number of cases, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and mortality accounted for 84.25%, 87.92% and 87.28% of the global totals, respectively. ARIMA modeling predicts that by 2030, the ASPR will reach 3.99%. Despite progress, the burden remains significant, and intensified efforts are needed, particularly in high-burden regions like West Africa, to meet the WHO's 2030 elimination targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860299/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Malaria Mortality in Brazil: Age-Period-Cohort Effects, Sociodemographic Factors, and Sustainable Development Indicators.","authors":"Mariusa Fernandes de Farias, Eric Renato Lima Figueiredo, Raimundo Nelson Souza da Silva, Deizyane Dos Reis Galhardo, Cleide Laranjeira da Silva, Evelyn Myelle Farias Moreira, Yury Souza de Azevedo, Emilly Cassia Soares Furtado, Janielly Reis Castelhano, João Simão de Melo-Neto, Fabiana de Campos Gomes","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020041","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Human malaria is a zoonosis considered a serious global public health problem caused by five species of protozoa of the genus <i>Plasmodium</i> spp., which are transmitted by mosquito vectors belonging to the genus <i>Anopheles</i> spp.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To verify whether there is a relationship between the age-standardized malaria mortality rate in Brazil and age-period-cohort effect variables, sociodemographic differences, and indicators of sustainable development.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on malaria mortality in Brazil from 2000 to 2022 were analyzed using sociodemographic factors such as ethnicity, region of residence, and sustainable development indicators.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Statistical data demonstrated that from 2000 to 2022, there was a reduction in malaria mortality; the 0-4 years age group was more susceptible to death, and the infection affected more men, Indigenous people, and residents of the North Region. Environmental factors such as CO₂ emissions and sanitation predict mortality in specific regions. The North and Northeast Regions had higher mortality rates. In the North, low CO₂ emissions, deforestation, weak urban sanitation, a lower GDP, and a higher Gini index were related to high mortality; the latter was also a factor in high rates of deforestation and solid waste collection in the Central West and Northeast Regions. The number of consultations and professionals was a predictive factor for high rates in the three regions mentioned. The Southeast Region had the lowest mortality rate and lowest health expenditure, while the Northeast and Midwest Regions had the highest expenditure in this sector.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study can contribute to the direction of public policy due to the specificities of each region in Brazil.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860777/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intensive Therapeutic Plasma Exchange-New Approach to Treat and Rescue Patients with Severe Form of Yellow Fever.","authors":"Yeh-Li Ho, Youko Nukui, Paula Ribeiro Villaça, Erica Okazaki, Nelson Hidekazu Tatsui, Lucas Chaves Netto, Daniel Joelsons, Tania Rubia Flores da Rocha, Fernanda de Mello Malta, João Renato Rebello Pinho, Aluisio Augusto Cotrim Segurado, Vanderson Rocha","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020039","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Severe yellow fever (YF) can result in acute liver failure (ALF) and high mortality. The role of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in managing YF-ALF remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of TPE strategies in severe YF.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This observational case-series study evaluated three groups of patients classified according to treatment: G1 (standard intensive care support [ICS]), G2 (ICS + high-volume-TPE [HV-TPE]), and G3 (ICS + intensive TPE). HV-TPE was performed during 3 consecutive days with extra sessions of one plasma-volume, if necessary, whereas intensive TPE consisted of one plasma volume/session performed twice daily, with additional fresh frozen plasma infusion. Hemostatic agents, including tranexamic acid, platelets, and cryoprecipitate, were administered as needed. TPE was de-escalated based on clinical and laboratory parameters. The primary outcome was mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-six patients were included (G1: 41, G2: 11, G3: 14). Groups had similar baseline characteristics. Mortality was significantly lower in G3 (14%) compared to G2 (82%) and G1 (85%) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, G3 patients showed a higher frequency of undetectable YF viral load.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Intensive TPE is a feasible and effective intervention for severe YF, achieving an 84% reduction in mortality. The limitations of our results are the small sample size, observational and single-center study. Further studies are warranted to elucidate intensive TPE's role in YF management.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860207/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utility of VIDAS^® Dengue Diagnostic Assays to Differentiate Primary and Secondary Dengue Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Military Hospital from Colombia.","authors":"Andrés E Prieto-Torres, Leidy J Medina-Lozano, Juan David Ramírez-Ávila, Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020040","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of VIDAS^® DENGUE NS1 Ag and anti-DENV IgM and IgG assays in parallel for an early and accurate diagnosis and classification of dengue virus (DENV) infection. For this retrospective cross-sectional study, 190 patients with suspected dengue were tested using VIDAS^® NS1, IgM, and IgG assays, requested in parallel, regardless of symptom onset timing, and classified into primary and secondary infections. Results were analyzed to determine diagnostic accuracy and correlation with disease severity. Parallel testing effectively differentiated between primary and secondary DENV infection. Secondary dengue cases with warning signs showed significantly elevated IgG levels (<i>p</i> = 0.026). Notably, NS1-negative (possible secondary cases) had higher IgM and IgG levels than NS1-positive cases (<i>p</i> < 0.01), suggesting that NS1 negativity might indicate an amplified immune response. In conclusion, VIDAS^® Dengue diagnostic assays not only enhance the diagnostic accuracy of dengue infection but also offer valuable insights into serological patterns, especially in secondary cases. These assays could be used not only to confirm diagnosis but also to stratify patients by risk, particularly in cases of secondary dengue, where IgG levels might indicate a higher risk for severe outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860576/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biting Hour and Host Seeking Behavior of <i>Aedes</i> Species in Urban Settings, Metema District, Northwest Ethiopia.","authors":"Wondmeneh Jemberie, Sisay Dugassa, Abebe Animut","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020038","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Aedes</i> species transmit arboviral diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika. The diseases cause severe sickness, mortality, and economic losses. This study describes the biting hour and host-seeking behavior of <i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. vittatus</i> in three towns. Recently, chikungunya and dengue infections were reported in the study sites.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Biting hour and host-seeking behaviors of <i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. vittatus</i> were studied from June to September 2023, in Genda-Wuha, Kokit, and Metema-Yohannes towns, Metema district, Northwest Ethiopia. CDC-LT traps were set running indoors and outdoors for 24 h closer to humans sleeping inside unimpregnated mosquito nets. At the same time, CDC-LT traps were set running overnight closer to domestic animals' shelters located within a 50-m radius of the main residence. Mosquitoes trapped in CDC-LT were collected every hour. The study was conducted four times in each town during the wet season. A chi-square test was employed to examine biting hour and host-seeking behavior.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>Aedes aegypti</i> was observed to be highly exophilic and active during the daylight hours. <i>Aedes aegypti</i> exhibited a peak biting rate between 07:00 and 08:00 with the biting rate of 4.5/person/hour followed by from 17:00 pm to 18:00 pm with the biting rate of 3.75/person/hour. The hourly biting rate of <i>Ae. aegypti</i> differed significantly. Its peak indoor biting rate was from 19:00 to 20:00 with the rate of 2.00 bites/person/hour followed by from 08:00 to 09:00 with the rate of 1.50 bites/person/hour and the biting rates differed significantly across the hours (F = 240.046; <i>p</i> = 0.001). <i>Aedes vittatus</i> also exhibited a biting rate similar to that of <i>Ae. aegypti</i>. Both <i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. vittatus</i> were abundantly collected from nearby human sleeping arrangements than from the shelters of cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys. The highest proportions of <i>Ae. aegypti</i> (91.21%) and <i>Ae. vittatus</i> (89.87%) were unfed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong><i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. vittatus</i> exhibited peak biting rates during morning and early night hours that aligned with the active daily routine practices of the local community. This could potentially expose the inhabitants to viral diseases transmitted by <i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. vittatus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HPV-51 or HPV-52 Infection Could Impair Sperm Quality in Infertile Patients: A Preliminary Study on Our Experience from North-Western Italy.","authors":"Claudia Omes, Mariangela Rienzi, Roberta Rossini, Manuela Piccinino, Rossella Elena Nappi","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020036","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in all genders worldwide. Its association with male infertility is deeply investigated, although there are conflicting data on the role of the virus in the impairment of semen quality and reduced reproductive outcomes. In this study, we considered 335 semen samples of males (age: 37.63 ± 6.02 years) belonging to infertile couples who did not conceive a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. Residual semen samples, after routine sperm analysis, were used to amplify and type viral DNA. Positive or negative HPV semen samples were compared. In total, 42.51% (139/327) were positive for at least one HPV genotype, and in 54.68% (76/139), positivity was due to a high-risk (HR) genotype. The most prevalent was HPV-16 (16.55%) followed by HPV-52 (10.07%) and HPV-51 (7.91%). Overall, no significant differences emerged in terms of sperm concentration, sperm motility, and morphology between the two groups. However, a considerable reduction in sperm motility was found in the presence of HPV-51 or HPV-52. These data point to the importance of HPV screening in semen analysis to evaluate patients that might have a higher risk of infertility according to the type of HPV genotype.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11861865/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Central Nervous System Infection by Free-Living Nematode <i>Cephalobus cubaensis</i> in a Human Host in Africa.","authors":"Charlotte Sriruttan-Nel, Chelline Cairns, Shareen Boughan, Bhavani Moodley, Lisa Ming Sun, Wai Yin Chan, Arshad Ismail, Absalom Mwazha, Praniel Bennimahadeo, Nithendra Manickchund, Mthabisi Moyo, Thabani Nkwanyana, Mpumelelo Z Msimang, Ahmed Essa, John Frean, Mahomed-Yunus Moosa","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020037","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Human central nervous system infections due to free-living nematodes, although extremely rare, are usually fatal. Immunodeficiency has not been a feature of most of these cases, unlike the situation pertaining to disseminated <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i> infection.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>An elderly immunocompetent man presented with a history of tinnitus and otalgia, progressing to central nervous system involvement with confusion, weakness, and other neurological signs. Examination revealed a unilateral external auditory canal soft tissue mass and radiological evidence of ipsilateral temporal bone destruction and brain parenchymal disease. A biopsy of the ear canal mass revealed the presence of an unidentified nematode species, and treatment with anthelminthics was started. The patient's clinical condition deteriorated and he died shortly after admission to the intensive care unit. The immediate cause of death was bronchopneumonia. During the autopsy, an extensive involvement of the right middle cranial fossa was found, with destruction of the squamous and petrous parts of the temporal bone.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified adult, larval, and egg stages of a free-living nematode in the antemortem external auditory canal tissue mass and the post-mortem brain samples. Polymerase chain reaction assays, with Sanger and whole-genome sequencing, identified <i>Cephalobus cubaensis</i>. This is a free-living species not previously known to be pathogenic to humans, although nematodes of the same genus have caused mastitis in horses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Microscopic appearance and the invasive behaviour of the pathogen evoked a putative diagnosis of <i>Halicephalobus gingivalis</i>, the most frequently reported free-living nematode infecting humans. However, this nematode's size and anatomical features, and the clinical presentation and duration of illness, prompted the consideration of an alternative species. We speculate that an initial bacterial otitis externa provided the opportunity for colonization by the nematode from an environmental source and subsequent invasion.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860163/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wide Variation of <i>Aedes albopictus</i> Genotypes First Introduced into Canary Islands Assessed by rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer Region and mtDNA <i>cox</i>1 Sequencing and Cloning.","authors":"Alejandra De Elías-Escribano, Irene Serafín-Pérez, Patricio Artigas, Carolina Fernández-Serafín, Sara Rodríguez-Camacho, Beatriz Yanes-Manrique, Víctor González-Alonso, Santiago Mas-Coma, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, María Dolores Bargues","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020035","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Aedes albopictus</i>, one of the most rapidly spreading invasive mosquito species, has expanded from Asia to establish populations on every continent except Antarctica, showcasing exceptional adaptability, particularly in island environments. This study provides the first molecular characterization of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> in the Canary Islands, Spain. Genotyping was conducted using rDNA 5.8S-ITS2 and mtDNA <i>cox</i>1 sequencing, with haplotype analysis and phylogenetic network assessment. Among 49 sequences, 28 distinct 5.8S-ITS2 haplotypes were identified, with individual specimens containing 5 to 17 haplotypes (mean, 10.6). Most haplotypes (26/28; 92.85%) were unique to Tenerife, while only two (7.14%) were shared with other regions. H1 was the most frequent haplotype, shared with Valencia and China, while H2, a short-length haplotype, was shared with Mallorca. For <i>cox</i>1, only two haplotypes were detected: <i>cox</i>1-H1, reported in Europe, China, and Brazil, and a novel haplotype, <i>cox</i>1-H28. This genetic diversity suggests the species' potential capacity to colonize new environments. The findings provide a foundation for further research in the Canary Islands and globally, particularly in regions with high tourism and arbovirus risks, emphasizing the importance of ongoing surveillance and genetic studies to understand the dynamics and public health impacts of invasive mosquito species.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860604/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143493842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of AccuPower Diarrhea V1&V2 RT-PCR to a Chromatographic Immunoassay for Detecting Viral Pathogens from Human Diarrheal Stool Specimens.","authors":"Luka Katic, Boris Mihaljevic, Marijo Pirija, Ivana Goic-Barisic, Marija Tonkic, Anita Novak","doi":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020033","DOIUrl":"10.3390/tropicalmed10020033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Viruses are a frequent cause of self-limited diarrhea, with more severe outcomes in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to compare the performance of Real-Time RT-PCR to chromatographic immunoassays (CIAs) for detecting the major gastrointestinal viruses in human stool. This study was conducted at the University Hospital of Split, Croatia, from October 2023 to May 2024. Stool samples were simultaneously analyzed with CIA (Acro Biotech Rotavirus and Adenovirus Combo Rapid Test Cassette, USA and JusChek Norovirus Rapid Test Cassette, China) and Real-Time RT-PCR (AccuPower Diarrhea V1&V2 Real-Time RT-PCR, Bioneer, Republic of Korea), according to the manufacturers' instructions. Positive percent agreement (PPA), negative percent agreement (NPA), and overall percent agreement (OPA) were calculated. For norovirus, CIA had a low PPA (25%), indicating that it missed 75% of norovirus-positive cases identified by RT-PCR. Adenovirus detection by CIA showed poor agreement with RT-PCR (PPA 0%; NPA 100%). Rotavirus detection presented a relatively better performance with CIA (PPA 90.9% and OPA 84.13%). However, the presence of false positives (15.8%) highlights the need for confirmatory RT-PCR testing. One specimen was sapovirus-RT-PCR-positive, marking the first documented case from human specimens in Croatia. Although CIA provided rapid results, limitations regarding reliability highlight the value of RT-PCR, particularly in the case of ambiguous clinical cases with negative antigenic test results and newly emerged viruses. A two-step diagnostic approach, with initial CIA screening followed by confirmatory RT-PCR, could balance cost-effectiveness with diagnostic accuracy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23330,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11860935/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143492538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}