RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS - Advantages and limitations of microscopy and molecular detections for diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminths: An overview

by N. Miswan, G. V. Singham, N. Othman

World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 1.5 billion people are infected by STH worldwide, with their significant occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa, the United States of America, China, and East Asia. There are four main human-infecting STH species, specifically the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma sp.). WHO recommends annual and biannual regional mass drug administration (MDA) programs in endemic populations by delivering 400 mg single-dose albendazole or 500 mg mebendazole.  STH detection is commonly based on the microscopic diagnosis of the helminth eggs or larvae in human stool and the occasional shedding of the eggs or larvae of the parasites. With the increasing emphasis on diagnostic accuracy, molecular methods are gaining attention as alternatives to overcome the drawbacks of microscopy-based techniques. Molecular-based methods are more sensitive, rapid, and specific for STH detection than the microscopy based-method, particularly qPCR with the capability to diagnose mixed infections simultaneously in a short time.

Link: https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/helm-2022-0034

CCB Ref.:  2023_RH_nm_01
Date :  01/03/2023