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1: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Aug;100(8):753-9. Epub 2006 Jan 25.
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Estimation of the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis by a pool screen PCR assay using blood spots collected on filter paper.

Supali T, Ismid IS, Wibowo H, Djuardi Y, Majawati E, Ginanjar P, Fischer P.

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Salemba 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia. taniawati@yahoo.com

The prevalence of lymphatic filariasis was estimated by PCR-based pool screening of night blood collected from 865 individuals living in ten areas endemic for Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi or B. timori in Indonesia. A total of 232 microfilaraemics were identified by filtration of 1 ml of blood. The microfilaria (mf) prevalence ranged from 6% to 54%, and the mf density in microfilaraemics ranged from 1 mf/ml to 6028 mf/ml. PCR assays both for W. bancrofti or Brugia spp. detected a single mf present on a 30 microl dried filter paper blood spot. One hundred and seventy-eight pools of five blood spots in each pool (pool-5) were tested by PCR and 101 (57%) pools were positive. When pool size was increased to 10 spots per pool (pool-10), 65 (70%) of 93 pools were positive. Pearson's correlation and linear regression showed a strong correlation between filtration and pool screen PCR results for pool-10 (r=0.835) and pool-5 (r=0.695). Based on the determination coefficient (R), the results of pool-10 PCR (R=0.697) gave a better prediction compared with pool-5 PCR (R=0.483). This study suggests that pool screen PCR may be a useful tool for monitoring the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.

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PMID: 16442578 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]