Analytical sensitivity of loopamp and quantitative real-time PCR on dried blood spots and their potential role in monitoring human African trypanosomiasis elimination

Charlie Franck Alfred Compaoré, Hamidou Ilboudo, Jacques Kaboré, Justin Windingoudi Kaboré, Oumou Camara, Mohamed Bamba, Hassane Sakande, Minayégninrin Koné, Mamadou Camara, Dramane Kaba, Adrien Marie Gaston Belem, Stijn Deborggraeve, Philippe Büscher, Bruno Bucheton, Veerle Lejon, Vincent Jamonneau

    Research output: Contribution to journalA1: Web of Science-articlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The objective set by WHO to reach elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) as a public health problem by 2020 is being achieved. The next target is the interruption of gambiense-HAT transmission in humans by 2030. To monitor progress towards this target, in areas where specialized local HAT control capacities will disappear, is a major challenge. Test specimens should be easily collectable and safely transportable such as dried blood spots (DBS). Monitoring tests performed in regional reference centres should be reliable, cheap and allow analysis of large numbers of specimens in a high-throughput format. The aim of this study was to assess the analytical sensitivity of Loopamp, M18S quantitative real-time PCR (M18S qPCR) and TgsGP qPCR as molecular diagnostic tests for the presence of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in DBS. The sensitivity of the Loopamp test, with a detection limit of 100 trypanosomes/mL, was in the range of parasitaemias commonly observed in HAT patients, while detection limits for M18S and TgsGP qPCR were respectively 1,000 and 10,000 trypanosomes/mL. None of the tests was entirely suitable for high-throughput use and further development and implementation of sensitive high-throughput molecular tools for monitoring HAT elimination are needed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number108014
    JournalExperimental Parasitology
    Volume219
    Number of pages6
    ISSN0014-4894
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020

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