The performance of the SD BIOLINE Dengue DUO® rapid immunochromatographic test kit for the detection of NS1 antigen, IgM and IgG antibodies during a dengue type 1 epidemic in Jamaica.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is an important mosquito-borne viral infection that affects millions of persons worldwide. Early diagnosis is necessary to effect appropriate management and decrease mortality. Immunochromatographic tests are advantageous in producing dengue test results within 30 min but these results should be sensitive and specific. In this study we evaluated the diagnostic performance of the SD BIOLINE Dengue DUO® rapid immunochromatographic test kit. A panel of 309 dengue and 30 non-dengue single serum samples characterized by using reference enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) was used. These samples were received in the virology laboratory for routine testing during a dengue type 1 outbreak between October to December, 2012. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic sensitivities of the SD BIOLINE Dengue DUO® rapid testfor IgM, IgG and NSI were 49.3% (95% CI: 41.3-57.4), 39.1% (95% CI: 33.3-45.2) and 90% (95% CI: 82.1-94.7), respectively. The IgM and IgG detection rates were significantly lower than that of the NSI (p < 0.001). However the combination of the IgM detection with NS1 detection or both NS1 and IgG resulted in a significant (p < 0.001) increase in sensitivity to 97.5% (95 % CI: 92.9-99.2) and 98.9% (95 % CI: 96.0-99.7), respectively. These higher sensitivities were achieved without any decrease in specificities. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that combining two or more parameters of the SD BIOLINE Dengue DUO® rapid kit significantly improved the sensitivity of diagnosis of dengue virus infection and supports its usefulness in the Jamaican setting.

Success in controlling a major outbreak of malaria because of Plasmodium falciparum in Jamaica.

In 2006, after 44 years of eradication of malaria, Jamaica had an outbreak of Plasmodium falciparum: 406 confirmed cases between September 2006 and December 2009 with a peak of the epidemic in December 2006. In response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health launched an emergency response through early detection and prompt treatment of cases, vector control, public education and intersectoral collaboration. Ninety percent (361) of cases were residents of Kingston, and 63.6% were identified through house to house surveillance visits. For 56% of the confirmed cases, treatment with chloroquine was initiated within a week of onset of symptoms. Only one (0.3%) of 358 cases who had a post-treatment smear on day 7 had a persistent asexual parasitaemia, while none of the 149 persons who had a follow-up smear on day 28 was positive. The outbreak highlighted the need for increased institutional capacity for surveillance, confirmation and treatment of malaria as well as effective prevention and control of outbreaks which can occur after elimination. Jamaica appears to have successfully eliminated malaria after its reintroduction.

Evaluation of OneStep Dengue NS1 RapiDip™ InstaTest and OneStep Dengue Fever IgG/IgM RapiCard™ InstaTest during the course of a dengue type 1 epidemic.

We determined the diagnostic performance of the OneStep NS1 and the OneStep IgG/IgM RDT kits against a panel of samples which comprised of 174 dengue positive and 165 dengue negative sera characterized by three reference enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The diagnostic sensitivities of the OneStep kits for the detection of individual biomarkers of NS1, IgM and IgG were 90% (95% CI: 82.1-94.7), 32.4% (95% CI: 24.8-40.8) and 44.4% (95% CI: 38.2-50.7), respectively. The combination of the OneStep IgG/IgM kit with the OneStep NS1 kit demonstrated significantly higher sensitivities for the combined NS1/IgM (96.8%; 95% CI: 90.9-99.3) and NS1/IgM/IgG (99.5%; 95% CI: 97.1-99.9)(P<0.001). In conclusion, the OneStep NS1 kit has high sensitivity and specificity and is highly recommended for use. The low sensitivities for IgG (44.4%) and for IgM (32.4%) of the OneStep IgG/IgM kit when used alone suggest it is best used in combination with the OneStep NS1 kit to enhance its overall diagnostic performance.

Plasmodium malariae in Haitian refugees, Jamaica.

Since 1963, reported malaria transmission in Haiti has been restricted to Plasmodium falciparum. However, screening of Haitian refugees in Jamaica in 2004, by microscopic examination, identified P. falciparum, P. vivax, and P. malariae. PCR confirmed the P. malariae and P. falciparum but not P. vivax infections. DNA sequencing and rRNA gene sequences showed transmission of P. malariae. This report confirms that P. malariae is still being transmitted in Haiti.

A systematic HIV/AIDS education programme for auxiliary staff in Jamaican hospitals - abstract

Between June and September 1990, a 90-minute lecture with group discussion about the human immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was held for auxiliary staff at each of the 21 government hospitals in Jamaica. After a pilot experiment in two hospitals, a standard teaching format was used in 21 further sessions at 19 sites, including information about HIV and AIDS, how HIV is and how it is not transmitted and relevant safety precautions. Pre/post tests were given at 20 of the 21 sessions. Data were analysed from all sessions where more than two-thirds of the participants completed valid pre- and post-tests. There were 286 valid paired forms from 13 sessions (12 hospitals). In pre-tests, mean scores ranged from 31 percent to 82 percent and were > 60 percent in 12 of 13 sessions. Only 22 percent of participants indicated knowing that AIDS is a group of diseases and 21 percent identified the correct minimum exposure time required to kill HIV with bleach. Only 42 percent acknowledged that they could catch HIV from a healthy-looking carrier. Mean post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores in 12 of 13 hospitals (p < 0.001 eleven times; p< 0.03 once). However, < 50 percent of persons still said they could not catch HIV from a healthy-looking carrier (AU)

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica

OBJECTIVE:To describe the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica. METHODS: Data from the national surveillance system for HIV infection and AIDS based in the Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, were reviewed. These include case reports; HIV screening of blood donors, migrant farmworkers and US visa applicants; sentinel surveillance among antenatal clinic (ANC) attenders and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attenders; and various serosurveys. RESULTS: A total of 669 AIDS cases were reported in Jamaica from December 1993 representing a cumulative AIDS case rate of 28 per 100 000 population. Since 1987 the annual AIDS case rate doubled every 2 years with 69 percent of individuals having died with AIDS. Heterosexual transmission predominates with the cumulative adults AIDS male-to-female case ratio declining from 2:8:1 in 1988 to 1:9:1 in 1993. A total of 55 children with AIDS account for 8.2 percent of all cases. The HIV infection rate per 1000 in 1993 was 3.8 among blood donors, 1.4 among ANC attenders and significantly higher among STD clinic attenders (men 6 percent, women 2.7 percent) homosexuals (9.6 percent), female prostitutes (12 percent) and individuals with repeat STD infectious (10 percent). Consistent condom use increased from 27 percent in 1989 to 47 percent in 1993. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection was introduced into Jamaica from abroad through several different routes including the Jamaican homosexual community, migrant farmworkers, female prostitutes, and informal commercial importers. HIV transmission is well established locally and is spreading more rapidly in Western Jamaica and along the North Coast, which may reflect increase sexual activity associated with tourism. Although awareness of AIDS and HIV is high and condom use has increased considerably, there are no grounds for complacency concerning the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica.(AU)