Overcoming challenges in the diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infections using POC tests, recombinant protein and monoclonal antibody technologies.

Abstract

Control constraints of Schistosomiasis include the lack of diagnostic methods with high sensitivity. We develop a prospective study in southeast Brazil to standardize new sensitive and rapid diagnostic methods for Schistosoma mansoni infection. Currently, we are investigating 6 endemic areas (>1000 individuals with chronic infection) and 84 travelers infected in a freshwater pool (with acute infection). Sera, urine, feces and saliva samples were used for the standardization/validation of innovative methods, including acute, chronic and post‐treatment patients. Comparisons are performed with eggs in feces by 24 Kato‐Katz slides and 2 analysis of Saline Gradient and clinical symptoms. With our new point‐of‐care methods using a selected recombinant protein called CCAr e other markers, we were able to detect the disease early as 10 days post‐infection and more than 95% of positive cases from chronic and low endemicity areas were obtained. Plus, POC‐CCA® test was improved with a urine concentration step that turned its sensibility from 6% to 56%. Monoclonal antibody and recombinant protein technologies allowed a superior detection method when comparing it to the conventional methods. In conclusion, data showed 100% of sensitivity of chronic patients and 98% of acute patients.Support or Funding InformationFapemig, CNPq, FIOCRUZ, PDTIS (Brazil). Fulbright, NIH, University of Georgia (USA).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.