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Use of the PCR in a Combined Methodological Approach for the Study of Human Fascioliasis in an Endemic Area

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Abstract

Purpose

Fascioliasis is a worldwide distributed trematodiasis considered a neglected disease. Diagnosis in humans has been traditionally based on parasitological and immunological techniques. Recently we reported the use of the PCR in stool samples for the individual diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate human fascioliasis by a combination of diagnostic methods in an area where the disease is highly endemic in animals.

Methods

We studied all the inhabitants (N = 240) of Tatón village, Argentina, by Fasciola hepatica rproCL1-ELISA. Among them, we continued the study with 13 cases that had at least two positive serological tests, who performed a questionnaire, physical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, and collection of blood and faeces. Blood/serum samples were used for Fh rproCL1-ELISA and liver function tests. Faeces were used for parasitological analysis and PCR of a repetitive fragment of Fasciola sp.

Results

Among the 13 patients, 9 presented symptoms of biliary colic. All patients repeated positive serology. F. hepatica eggs were not detected. PCR was positive in 11 cases.

Conclusion

This is the first report employing an approach based on the combination of methods for the evaluation of human fascioliasis in an endemic area, which includes molecular tools with a high value in detecting low infections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán”, Avenida Vélez Sarsfield 563,, CP 1281, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Silvana Carnevale & María Laura Pantano

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Silvana Carnevale

  3. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca, Maestro Quiroga 1ra. Cuadra, CP 4700, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Catamarca, Argentina

    Jorge Bruno Malandrini & Claudia Cecilia Soria

  4. Hospital de Infecciosas “Dr. Francisco Javier Muñiz”. Uspallata 2272, CP 1282, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Mirna Sawicki & Jorge Néstor Velásquez

  5. Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155 piso 13, CP 1121, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Laura Kamenetzky

Authors
  1. Silvana Carnevale
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  2. Jorge Bruno Malandrini
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  3. María Laura Pantano
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  4. Mirna Sawicki
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  5. Laura Kamenetzky
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  6. Claudia Cecilia Soria
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  7. Jorge Néstor Velásquez
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Correspondence to Jorge Néstor Velásquez.

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Carnevale, S., Malandrini, J.B., Pantano, M.L. et al. Use of the PCR in a Combined Methodological Approach for the Study of Human Fascioliasis in an Endemic Area. Acta Parasit. 66, 455–460 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-020-00302-2

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