Outbreak of Chagas disease in Brazil: Validation of a molecular diagnostic method.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), affects millions of people worldwide. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) have been used as tools to monitor parasitic levels in the bloodstream of individuals exposed to infection, thus enabling the monitoring of relapses and the effectiveness of therapy, for example. The aim of this study was to evaluate the TcSAT-IAM system, developed by our research group, on samples from patients with suspected Chagas disease infection. Initially, primer systems were developed for the detection of the nuclear DNA (SAT-DNA) from T. cruzi (TcSAT-IAM). The Cruzi system, predicted in the literature, and TcSAT-IAM were then evaluated in relation to their analytical sensitivity, specificity and efficiency. Afterwards, the applicability of the qPCR technique using both systems (separately) for the diagnosis of acute CD was evaluated in samples from 77 individuals exposed to the outbreak that occurred in Pernambuco-Brazil, relating the results obtained to those of the classical diagnostic methods recommended for this stage of the infection. TcSAT-IAM and Cruzi had a detection limit of 1 fg of target DNA (0,003 parasites). Thirty-eight cases were recorded, 28 by laboratory criteria and 10 by clinical and epidemiological criteria. Blood samples from 77 subjects were submitted to qPCR by both systems, reaching an agreement of 89.61% between them. After analyzes between systems and diagnostic criteria, the TcSAT-IAM showed sensitivity and specificity of 52.36% (CI 37.26-67.52) and 92.31% (CI 79.68-97.35), respectively, accuracy of 72.73% and moderate agreement. The TcSAT-IAM showed an accuracy of 72.58% and 75% in relation to parasitological and serological tests (IgM anti-T. cruzi), respectively. Therefore, quantitative PCR should be incorporated into the diagnosis of suspected acute cases of Chagas disease.

Clinical-therapeutic follow-up of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by different Leishmania spp. in Brazil.

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) may present different clinical manifestations, immune and therapeutic responses, depending on the Leishmania species, as well as inoculum size and factors inherent to the affected individual. Thus, the aim of this study was to carry out clinical-therapeutic follow-up of Brazilian patients with ACL caused by different Leishmania species. Between 2015 and 2018, patients with ACL from Amazonas and Pernambuco states (Brazil) were submitted to blood collection before and after treatment. The qPCR technique was used to quantify the parasite load. To identify the Leishmania species, one of the following techniques was employed: a conventional PCR performed from biopsy or blood DNA, followed by sequencing; or Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis from Leishmania isolated from biopsy/aspirated lesion. A total of 10.8% (23/213) of the patients included in positive cases were followed-up. All 23 patients were clinically and epidemiologically compatible with ACL and were also positive in parasitological tests (86.96%), molecular tests (73.91%) or both (60.87%). Seventeen samples collected before treatment and 11 collected after treatment were positive in the qPCR assay, with a mean parasite load (MPL) of 38.33 fg/µL and 11.81 fg/µL, respectively. Eight samples were positive in both collections. Thirteen patients (56.52%) were clinically cured (wound healing). Ten patients (43.47%) were not clinically cured at the time of return with the attending physician. Identification of Leishmania species was carried out in samples from nine patients, and six were identified as L. (Viannia) braziliensis, 2 as L (Viannia) guyanensis and 1 as L (Leishmania) amazonensis. One patient infected with L. guyanensis and other with L. braziliensis were not clinically cured and increased the mean parasite load after treatment. The data obtained from the followed-up patients and the relationship between clinical evolution and the infecting species demonstrate the need to understand its etiology to define the effective therapeutic protocol.

Duplex qPCR for Leishmania species identification using lesion imprint on filter paper.

BACKGROUND: American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is caused by different Leishmania parasites, which stimulate and direct the immune response against the infection. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the TaqMan probe technology applicability to diagnose and identifying of Leishmania spp. related to the ACL etiology. METHODOLOGY: Through the MEGA 6.0 software, performed an in silico analysis using multiple alignments of Leishmania spp. which were available on GenBank for different genomic targets. The efficiency (e), specificity and detection limit (DL) were calculated for each system, these were associated to compose a duplex-qPCR (DqPCR). The samples of blood, lesion biopsy and lesion imprint on filter paper from patients residing in states of Amazonas (AM) and Pernambuco (PE)-Brazil, (cases and controls) were used to perform the DqPCR technique. The capacity to identify the Leishmania species was determined by comparison with isoenzymes method and sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (rDNA) was the target selected. Two sets of primers and probes were designed and combined: SVS for subgenus Viannia and LaS for L. (L.) amazonensis. The results were: SVSe = 93.24%, SVS DL = 50 fg/µL; LaSe = 89.3%, LaSLD = 5 fg/µL presented 100% of specificity. In total, 236 individuals participated of the present study, wherein were 101 blood samples, 33 biopsies and 147 lesion imprints. The imprint was the most sensitive sample, showing 83.06% of sensitivity, 86.96% of specificity and substantial agreement between the techniques analysis (k = 0.531; p < 0,001). Regarding the species identification, DqPCR and sequencing/isoenzymes have agreed at 100%, since the infection is caused by a single Leishmania species. CONCLUSION: The DqPCR technique was applicable in diagnosis and identification of Leishmania spp. (subgenus Viannia and L. amazonensis). Furthermore, the lesion imprint is less invasive, allowing a fewer discomfort and greater acceptance by the patients, in addition of being low cost and easy handling.

The diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil: Confronting old problems.

In Brazil, the main strategy adopted to contain Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is the controversial culling of dogs with reagent serology for Canine VL (CVL). Despite there are studies showing that significant reduction of human cases has not been observed, as well as there are works demonstrating the occurrence of false-positive results in the confirmatory test, the protocol has been maintained. Researches that can reinforce the existence and persistence of this problem, as well as bring concrete alternatives are pivotal. In this context, the aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the serological, molecular and parasitological methods employed for CVL detection in Brazil, in dogs with diverse clinical profiles, from two endemic areas of Pernambuco state. Comparisons among TR-DPP®, EIE-LVC and qPCR (animals from Goiana-PE: 91) demonstrated that agreements varied from 'poor' to 'moderate' (kappa = 0.162-0.442), and a triple agreement occurred in 61.36% (54/88) of the samples. The highest percentage of agreement was obtained between TR-DPP® and EIE-LVC within the polysymptomatic group (93.33%; 14/15). Of the 34 dogs with reagent serology from Caruaru-PE, 17 (50%) and 29 dogs (85.29%) were positive for qPCR and parasitological exam, respectively. By comparing serology, qPCR and parasitological exam, the lowest percentage of agreements were obtained within the asymptomatic group (40%-72.72%). It was possible to observe that the percentage of agreement tended to decrease according to the absence of clinical manifestations in the dogs. Thus, from the fact that all diagnostic tools evaluated have their limitations, it is very important to be careful before to propose an alternative set of diagnostic criteria. Besides, the answer for better results in the control of CVL may not be in the choose of the best set of diagnostic tools, but it may be in the strategy of culling itself. In this context, it is very important to invest in alternative control measures, such as mass vaccination and treatment of dogs, thus reducing the transmission to the vector and helping to avoid new canine and human cases.

Real-time PCR for Leishmania species identification: Evaluation and comparison with classical techniques.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease caused by various Leishmania species. Several studies have shown that real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) can be used for Leishmania spp. identification by analyzing the melting temperature (Tm). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the viability of qPCR for differentiating eight closely related Leishmania species that cause the same clinical form of the disease and to compare the results with classical techniques. METHODS: qPCR assays for standardizing the Tm using reference strains were performed. After the CL diagnosis on blood samples of domestic animals, positive samples were analyzed by their Tm and qPCR products were purified and sequenced. Ten human samples previously characterized by Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) were also analyzed by Tm. A Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assay, a reference test, was also standardized, by using the reference strains. RESULTS: Through standardization of Tm for Leishmania spp., two Tm ranges were created for analysis: 1 (Tm = 78-79.99 °C) included Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, Leishmania (V.) panamensis, Leishmania (V.) lainsoni, Leishmania (V.) guyanensis and Leishmania (V.) shawi; and 2 (Tm = 80-82.2 °C) included Leishmania (V.) naiffi, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and Leishmania (L.) mexicana. A total of 223 positive blood samples were analyzed, with 58 included in range 1 and 165 in range 2. L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) panamensis and L. (V.) guyanensis were identified by sequencing, while L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (L.) mexicana and L. (V.) panamensis were identified by RFLP analysis. Ten human samples previously characterized by Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) were also analyzed by qPCR Tm analysis; five were classified in range 1 and five in range 2. A concordance of 80% was calculated between qPCR and the gold-standard (MLEE) with no significant difference between the methods (p = 0.6499); a similar result was observed for sequencing and qPCR (p = 0.2566). In contrast, a highly significant difference was observed for qPCR and RFLP (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we demonstrated the potential use of qPCR as a tool for Leishmania species identification using two Tm ranges.

Spatiotemporal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 lineages during 2020-2021 in Pernambuco-Brazil.

SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged as a new threat to humans and spread around the world, leaving a large death toll. As of January 2023, Brazil is among the countries with the highest number of registered deaths. Nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions have been heterogeneously implemented in the country, which, associated with large socioeconomic differences between the country regions, has led to distinct virus spread dynamics. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in the Pernambuco state (Northeast Brazil) throughout the distinct epidemiological scenarios that unfolded in the first 2 years of the pandemic. We generated a total of 1,389 new SARS-CoV-2 genomes from June 2020 to August 2021. This sampling captured the arrival, communitary transmission, and the circulation of the B1.1, B.1.1.28, and B.1.1.33 lineages; the emergence of the former variant of interest P.2; and the emergence and fast replacement of all previous variants by the more transmissible variant of concern P.1 (Gamma). Based on the incidence and lineage spread pattern, we observed an East-to-West to inner state pattern of transmission, which is in agreement with the transmission of more populous metropolitan areas to medium- and small-size country-side cities in the state. Such transmission patterns may be partially explained by the main routes of traffic across municipalities in the state. Our results highlight that the fine-grained intrastate analysis of lineages and incidence spread can provide actionable insights for planning future nonpharmacological intervention for air-borne transmissible human pathogens.IMPORTANCEDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil was one of the most affected countries, mainly due its continental-size, socioeconomic differences among regions, and heterogeneous implementation of intervention methods. In order to investigate SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in the state of Pernambuco, we conducted a spatiotemporal dispersion study, covering the period from June 2020 to August 2021, to comprehend the dynamics of viral transmission during the first 2 years of the pandemic. Throughout this study, we were able to track three significant epidemiological waves of transmission caused by B1.1, B.1.1.28, B.1.1.33, P.2, and P.1 lineages. These analyses provided valuable insights into the evolution of the epidemiological landscape, contributing to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of virus transmission during the early years of the pandemic in the state of Pernambuco.

Real-life evaluation of a rapid antigen test (DPP SARS-CoV-2 Antigen) for COVID-19 diagnosis of primary healthcare patients, in the context of the Omicron-dominant wave in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the real-life performance of the rapid antigen test in the context of a primary healthcare setting, including symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals that sought diagnosis during an Omicron infection wave. METHODS: We prospectively accessed the performance of the DPP SARS-CoV-2 Antigen test in the context of an Omicron-dominant real-life setting. We evaluated 347 unselected individuals (all-comers) from a public testing centre in Brazil, performing the rapid antigen test diagnosis at point-of-care with fresh samples. The combinatory result from two distinct real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) methods was employed as a reference and 13 samples with discordant PCR results were excluded. RESULTS: The assessment of the rapid test in 67 PCR-positive and 265 negative samples revealed an overall sensitivity of 80.5% (CI 95% = 69.1%-89.2%), specificity of 99.2% (CI 95% = 97.3%-99.1%) and positive/negative predictive values higher than 95%. However, we observed that the sensitivity was dependent on the viral load (sensitivity in Ct < 31 = 93.7%, CI = 82.8%-98.7%; Ct > 31 = 47.4%, CI = 24.4%-71.1%). The positive samples evaluated in the study were Omicron (BA.1/BA.1.1) by whole-genome sequencing (n = 40) and multiplex RT-qPCR (n = 17). CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the data obtained from a real-life prospective cohort supports that the rapid antigen test sensitivity for Omicron remains high and underscores the reliability of the test for COVID-19 diagnosis in settings with high disease prevalence and limited PCR testing capability.

Therapeutic Potential of Photosynthetic Microorganisms for Visceral Leishmaniasis: An Immunological Analysis.

New therapeutic strategies for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been studied, and the development of an immunotherapeutic agent that modulates the host's immune response is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the bioactive extracts of photosynthetic microorganisms (PMs) for their leishmanicidal/leishmanistatic and immunomodulatory potentials. Bioactive extracts from PMs (Arthrospira platensis and Dunaliella tertiolecta) were obtained by sonication. Reference drugs, miltefosine (MTF) and N-methylglucamine antimoniate (SbV), were also evaluated. The selectivity index (SI) of treatments was determined by assays of inhibitory concentration (IC50) in Leishmania infantum cells and cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by the MTT method. The immune response was evaluated in healthy human cells by the production of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) and the gene expression of Tbx21, GATA3, RORc, and FOXP3, using four concentrations (CC50, ½ CC50, » CC50, and IC50) for in-vitro stimulation. Based on the data obtained, we observed that the extracts of D. tertiolecta (SI = 4.7) and A. platensis (SI = 3.8) presented better results when compared to SbV (SI = 2.1). When analyzing the immune response results, we identified that the extracts of PMs stimulated the production of cytokines of the Th1 profile more than the reference drugs. The extracts also demonstrated the ability to stimulate NO synthesis. Regarding gene expression, in all concentrations of A. platensis extracts, we found a balance between the Th1/Th2 profile, with the average expression of the Tbx21 gene more than the GATA3 in the highest concentration (CC50). Regarding the extract of D. tertiolecta, we can observe that, in the lowest concentrations, a balance between all the genes was present, with the average expression of the GATA3 gene being lower than the others. The best result was found in the ½ CC50 concentration, stimulating a balanced positive expression between the Th1×Th17×Treg profiles, with a negative expression of GATA3. Thus, PM extracts showed promising results, presenting low toxicity, leishmanicidal/leishmanistatic activity, and induction of the immune response, which could be potential therapeutic candidates for VL.

Serum biomarkers associated with SARS-CoV-2 severity.

Immunity with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the acute phase is not sufficiently well understood to differentiate mild from severe cases and identify prognostic markers. We evaluated the immune response profile using a total of 71 biomarkers in sera from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, confirmed by RT-PCR and controls. We correlated biological marker levels with negative control (C) asymptomatic (A), nonhospitalized (mild cases-M), and hospitalized (severe cases-S) groups. Among angiogenesis markers, we identified biomarkers that were more frequently elevated in severe cases when compared to the other groups (C, A, and M). Among cardiovascular diseases, there were biomarkers with differences between the groups, with D-dimer, GDF-15, and sICAM-1 higher in the S group. The levels of the biomarkers Myoglobin and P-Selectin were lower among patients in group M compared to those in groups S and A. Important differences in cytokines and chemokines according to the clinical course were identified. Severe cases presented altered levels when compared to group C. This study helps to characterize biological markers related to angiogenesis, growth factors, heart disease, and cytokine/chemokine production in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, offering prognostic signatures and a basis for understanding the biological factors in disease severity.

Detection of Leishmania infantum amastigotes in neutrophil from peripheral blood in a naturally infected dog.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonotic disease of high lethality caused by Leishmania infantum in the Americas. In the infected dog, the amastigotes are scarce in blood, especially in the late phase of the disease. This study aimed to report a rare case of L. infantum amastigotes found in neutrophils from peripheral blood of a naturally infected dog in terminal phase of CVL, also describing its clinical status before and after treatment with miltefosine 2%. The dog, which presented as polysymptomatic and with classical signs and symptoms of CVL was submitted to the following tests: Dual Path Platform (DPP) rapid test, ELISA and parasitological examination of peripheral blood. Hematological and biochemical parameters were obtained before and after treatment. All diagnostic tests were positive for CVL. The identification of L. infantum amastigotes inside neutrophils from peripheral blood was confirmed through microscopy, and the species was confirmed by molecular analysis. At the end of the treatment, peripheral parasitemia was not detected, and improvements were observed in clinical and laboratorial parameters. Finally, this atypical finding can be used as example to raise discussions about the real immunological role of neutrophils in late phases of CVL and its clinical/therapeutic implications.

Enhanced rapid commercial DNA extraction kit for the molecular detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: Easy adaptation to current protocols.

INTRODUCTION: Herein, the authors describe a simple enhancement to a commercial rapid DNA extraction kit based on simple viral lysis for detecting COVID-19 via RT-qPCR. METHODS: After testing several different modifications, the adapted protocol with the best results in preliminary experiments was statistically evaluated in comparison with an automated robotic protocol. RESULTS: Processing and testing of 119 nasopharyngeal samples ultimately yielded near-perfect agreement with the automated protocol (κ = 0.981 [95% confidence interval 0.943-1.000]). CONCLUSIONS: The low cost and rapidity of the enhanced protocol makes it suitable for adoption in laboratories diagnosing COVID-19, especially those with high demand for examinations.

Immunoprophylactic Potential of a New Recombinant Leishmania infantum Antigen for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis: An In Vitro Finding.

The development and application of safe and effective immunoprophylactic/immunotherapeutic agents against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanL) have been pointed out as the only means for the real control of the disease. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro cellular immune response of dogs, elicited by the new recombinant proteins of Leishmania infantum, Lci10 and Lci13, in order to investigate their potential for vaccinology. Twenty-four dogs were submitted to clinical, parasitological, serological and molecular tests, and then separated into two study groups: 12 infected (InD) and 12 non-infected dogs (NInD), and six of each group were directed for Lci10 and Lci13 evaluation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured and stimulated with Lci10 (10 µg/ml) or Lci13 (5 µg/ml), and with L. infantum soluble antigen (LSA) (25 µg/ml) or no stimulus (NS) as controls. Afterwards, the mRNA levels of different cytokines were quantified through qPCR, and Nitric Oxide (NO) production was assessed in the culture supernatants. Significant differences were considered when p ≤ 0.05. The comparative analysis revealed that, in the NInD group, Lci13 promoted a significant increase in the expression of IFN-γ in relation to LSA (p = 0.0362), and the expression of this cytokine in NInD was significantly higher than that presented in the InD (p = 0.0028). A negative expression for TGF-ß was obtained in both groups. Lci13 also induced a greater production of NO in relation to the NS sample in the NInD group. No significant differences were observed after stimulation with Lci10. In conclusion, the results suggest a protective role of Lci13 for uninfected animals, thus with a potential for immunoprophylaxis. The results will help to direct the antigen Lci13 for further studies (pre-clinical trials), in order to determine its immunogenicity and reactogenicity effects, as a way to consolidate its real applicability for vaccinology against CanL.

Standardization and evaluation of a duplex real-time quantitative PCR for the detection of Leishmania infantum DNA: a sample quality control approach.

INTRODUCTION:: Molecular techniques have been shown to be alternative methods for the accurate detection of infectious and parasitic diseases, such as the leishmaniases. The present study describes the optimization and evaluation of a duplex real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) protocol developed for the simultaneous detection of Leishmania infantum DNA and sample quality control. METHODS:: After preliminary tests with the newly designed TaqMan® probes for the two targets ( L. infantum and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PD) gene), the duplex qPCR protocol was optimized. For the evaluation of the standardized protocol, human blood samples were tested (n=68) and the results were compared to those obtained by reference diagnostic techniques. Statistical analyses included percentage agreement and the Kappa ( k ) coefficient. RESULTS:: The detection limit of L. infantum DNA reached 2x10 2 fg (corresponding to ~1 parasite) per µL of blood (ε: 93.9%). The percentage agreement obtained between the duplex VL qPCR and the reference techniques was individually obtained as follows: molecular: 88.3% ( k =0.666; 95% CI 0.437-0.894, good), and serological: 81.7% ( k =0.411; 95% CI 0.125-0.697, moderate). Between the reference techniques, the percentage agreement was 86.7% ( k =0.586; 95% CI 0.332-0.840, moderate). CONCLUSIONS:: The new duplex VL qPCR protocol indicated good potential for the accurate, fast, and reliable detection of L. infantum DNA, when applied as a complement to the classical diagnostic tools already available, especially in health or research reference centers.

The Equivocal Role of Th17 Cells and Neutrophils on Immunopathogenesis of Leishmaniasis.

Advances in the understanding of leishmaniasis progression indicate that cellular interactions more complex than the Th1/Th2 paradigm define the course of infection. Th17 cells are a crucial modulator of adaptive immunity against Leishmania parasites acting mainly on neutrophil recruitment and playing a dual role at the site of infection. This review describes the roles of both these cell types in linking innate defense responses to the establishment of specific immunity. We focus on the Th17-neutrophil interaction as a crucial component of anti-Leishmania immunity, and the clinical evolution of cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis. To date, information obtained through experimental models and patient evaluations suggests that the influence of the presence of interleukin (IL)-17 (the main cytokine produced by Th17 cells) and neutrophils during Leishmania infections is strictly dependent on the tissue (skin or liver/spleen) and parasite species. Also, the time at which neutrophils are recruited, and the persistence of IL-17 in the infection microenvironment, may also be significant. A clearer understanding of these interactions will enable better measurement of the influence of IL-17 and its regulators, and contribute to the identification of disease/resistance biomarkers.

Evaluation of urine for Leishmania infantum DNA detection by real-time quantitative PCR.

The availability of some sorts of biological samples which require noninvasive collection methods has led to an even greater interest in applying molecular biology on visceral leishmaniasis (VL) diagnosis, since these samples increase the safety and comfort of both patients and health professionals. In this context, this work aimed to evaluate the suitability of the urine as a specimen for Leishmania infantum kinetoplast DNA detection by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Subsequent to the reproducibility analysis, the detection limit of the qPCR assay was set at 5fg (~0.025 parasites) per µL of urine. From the comparative analysis performed with a set of diagnostic criteria (serological and molecular reference tests), concordance value of 96.08% was obtained (VL-suspected and HIV/AIDS patients, n=51) (P>0.05). Kappa coefficient (95% CI) indicated a good agreement between the test and the set of diagnostic criteria (k=0.778±0.151). The detection of Leishmania DNA in urine by qPCR was possible in untreated individuals, and in those with or without suggestive renal impairment. Fast depletion of the parasite's DNA in urine after treatment (from one dose of meglumine antimoniate) was suggested by negative qPCR results, thus indicating it as a potential alternative specimen to follow up the efficacy of therapeutic approaches. Even when evaluated in a clinically heterogeneous set of patients, the urine showed good prospect as sample for VL diagnosis by qPCR, also indicating a good negative predictive value for untreated suspected patients.

Enhanced rapid commercial DNA extraction kit for the molecular detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: Easy adaptation to current protocols

Abstract INTRODUCTION Herein, the authors describe a simple enhancement to a commercial rapid DNA extraction kit based on simple viral lysis for detecting COVID-19 via RT-qPCR. METHODS After testing several different modifications, the adapted protocol with the best results in preliminary experiments was statistically evaluated in comparison with an automated robotic protocol. RESULTS Processing and testing of 119 nasopharyngeal samples ultimately yielded near-perfect agreement with the automated protocol (κ = 0.981 [95% confidence interval 0.943-1.000]). CONCLUSIONS The low cost and rapidity of the enhanced protocol makes it suitable for adoption in laboratories diagnosing COVID-19, especially those with high demand for examinations.

Inclusion of quality controls on leishmaniases molecular tests to increase diagnostic accuracy in research and reference laboratories.

Early detection of leishmaniases and prompt institution of treatment are paramount for individuals and communities affected by these diseases. To overcome the remaining limitations inherent to molecular methods currently used and to ensure the accuracy of results in leishmaniases diagnosis, two triplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays with quality controls for the reactions were developed. Validity indicators were assessed in 186 dog blood samples from endemic areas in Brazil. The level of agreement between the new tools and their singleplex protocols was assessed by kappa analysis. The triplex PCR for visceral leishmaniasis showed sensitivity (S) = 78.68 %, specificity (E) = 85.29 %, and efficiency (e) = 81.05 %. The cutaneous leishmaniasis protocol showed S = 97.29 %, E = 79.16 %, and e = 90.16 %. Both protocols showed good agreement with gold standards. These new tools enable, in a single reaction, the diagnosis of the diseases and the evaluation of the sample quality and DNA extraction process, thus reducing the cost of reagents and avoiding the eventual need for collecting a second sample.

Leishmaniases diagnosis: an update on the use of immunological and molecular tools.

Leishmaniases are caused by obligate intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. They cause a spectrum of diseases, most notably visceral (VL), cutaneous (CL), and mucosal (ML) leishmaniasis, which affect millions of people around the world, each year. Despite scientific advances, leishmaniases cases are expanding, constituting an important public health problem. Immunological and molecular diagnostic tools have been increasingly applied for the early detection of these parasitic infections, since the existence of limitations in clinical and parasitological examinations may provide false results, thus interfering in epidemiological research and diseases control. Although there is a great diversity of available immunological assays, important common deficiencies persist, which explains the current exploration of the molecular biology in research fields, especially the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and its variants, such as real-time quantitative PCR. However, in the last years, significant results have also been reached inside of immunological context (especially by Flow Cytometry), for humans and dogs, demonstrated by research works of the New and Old worlds. In spite of their potential to clarify and minimize the present global situation of the diseases, the implementation of molecular or immunological innovative reference assays for VL and CL at health services is still a challenge due to several reasons, including lack of standardization among laboratories and structural concerns. In this article we bring classical and current information about technological advances for the immunological and molecular leishmaniases diagnosis, their features, and applications.

Tracking false-negative results in molecular diagnosis: proposal of a triplex-PCR based method for leishmaniasis diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Molecular biological methods have become increasingly relevant to the diagnosis and control of infectious diseases, such as leishmaniasis. Since various factors may affect the sensitivity of PCR assays, including DNA yield and purity, an optimal extraction method is pivotal. Losses of a parasite's DNA during extraction may significantly impair its detection by PCR and lead to false-negative results. This study proposes a triplex PCR assay targeting the parasite's DNA, an external control (pUC18) and an internal control (G3PD) for accurate diagnosis of leishmaniasis. RESULTS: Two primer pairs were designed to detect the plasmid pUC18 and a triplex PCR assay targeting the Leishmania braziliensis kinetoplast DNA, the external control and the internal control was standardized. The triplex PCR assay was assessed for its ability to detect the three target DNA fragments simultaneously. PCR products from pUC18 DNA resulted in bands of 368 (P1) and 316 (P2) base pairs (bp). The triplex PCR optimized with the chosen external control system (P1) allowed the simultaneous detection of the internal control (G3PD - 567 bp) as well as of small quantities (10 pg) of the target parasite's DNA, detected by amplification of a 138 bp product. CONCLUSIONS: The new tool standardized herein enables a more reliable interpretation of PCR results, mainly by contributing to quality assurance of leishmaniasis diagnosis. Furthermore, after simple standardization steps, this protocol could be applied to the diagnosis of other infectious diseases in reference laboratories. This triplex PCR enables the assessment of small losses during the DNA extraction process, problems concerning DNA degradation (sample quality) and the detection of L. braziliensis kDNA.

Detection and quantification of Leishmania braziliensis in ectoparasites from dogs.

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is a disease caused by different species of Leishmania protozoa, Leishmania braziliensis being the main species found in Brazil. In this study, two rural areas in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, where ACL is endemic, were selected. Genomic DNA was extracted from canine ectoparasites (ticks, fleas, and lice) and tested using a conventional PCR and a quantitative real time PCR. A total of 117 ectoparasites were collected, being 50 (42.74%) of them positive for L. braziliensis (in at least one PCR protocol), with a mean parasite load of 14.14 fg/µL. Furthermore, 46 (92.00%) positive ectoparasites were collected from positive dogs and 4 (8.00%) from negative ones. This study reports the detection of L. braziliensis DNA in ectoparasites, but does not prove their vector competence. Certainly, experimental transmission studies are necessary to assess their role, if any, in the transmission of Leishmania parasites to dogs.