The use of circulating cathodic antigen rapid test and serology for diagnosis of active Schistosoma mansoni infection in migrants in Italy, a non-endemic country: a cross sectional study

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2017 Jun;112(6):452-455. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760160355.

Abstract

Diagnosis of schistosomiasis in migrants coming from endemic areas can be difficult, especially in asymptomatic subjects. Light-intensity disease, in fact, may be missed due to the low sensitivity of the stool microscopy and serologic testing cannot distinguish between a resolved infection and an active infection in patients who have been infected and treated in the past, because specific antibodies can persist despite cure. We describe a cross-sectional study conducted on 82 migrants tested for Schistosoma mansoni on single blood (anti-schistosome antibodies, total IgE) and urine [point-of-care (POC) circulating-cathodic-antigen (CCA) test] samples. A positive POC-CCA test (active infection) resulted in two untreated patients with a positive serology while all patients (n = 66) with a past infection showed a negative POC-CCA test. POC-CCA urine test in combination with serology may be helpful in rapidly differentiate active from past S. mansoni infection in migrants coming from endemic areas.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Helminth / analysis*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Schistosoma mansoni / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / diagnosis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Transients and Migrants / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Antigens, Helminth