Comparative study of the accuracy of different technique for the laboratory diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni in areas of low endemicity in Barra Mansa City, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Schistosomiasis constitutes a major public health problem, with an estimated 200 million people infected worldwide. Many areas of Brazil show low endemicity of schistosomiasis, and the current standard parasitological techniques are not sufficiently sensitive to detect the low-level helminth infections common in areas of low endemicity (ALEs). This study compared the Kato-Katz (KK); Hoffman, Pons, and Janer (HH); enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay- (ELISA-) IgG and ELISA-IgM; indirect immunofluorescence technique (IFT-IgM); and qPCR techniques for schistosomiasis detection in serum and fecal samples, using the circumoval precipitin test (COPT) as reference. An epidemiological survey was conducted in a randomized sample of residents from five neighborhoods of Barra Mansa, RJ, with 610 fecal and 612 serum samples. ELISA-IgM (21.4%) showed the highest positivity and HH and KK techniques were the least sensitive (0.8%). All techniques except qPCR-serum showed high accuracy (82­95.5%), differed significantly from COPT in positivity , and showed poor agreement with COPT. Medium agreement was seen with ELISA-IgG (Kappa = 0.377) and IFA (Kappa = 0.347). Parasitological techniques showed much lower positivity rates than those by other techniques. We suggest the possibility of using a combination of laboratory tools for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis in ALEs.

Enfermedad celiaca: estudio descriptivo en la Clínica Anglo Americana / Celiac disease: descriptive study in the Anglo American clinic

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad celiaca (EC) es una condición en la que la ingesta de gluten desencadena una respuesta de autoinmunidad que genera aplanamiento de las vellosidades intestinales causando malabsorción. La prevalencia mundial es de aproximadamente 1%. En nuestro país no es conocida MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo y observacional realizado en la Clínica Angloamericana entre Septiembre del 2004 y Febrero 2012. Se revisaron las historias clínicas, reportes endoscópicos y reportes de biopsias duodenales de los pacientes con anti Transglutaminasa tisular (TTG) positiva, mayores de 18 años. Resultados: Se estudiaron 39 casos, siendo 26 (66.7%) mujeres y 13 (33.3%) varones. La edad media de diagnóstico fue 61.25 años. Los síntomas fueron diarrea crónica en 32 (82.1%), dolor abdominal en 22 (56.4%), distensión abdominal en 14 (35.9%) y otros en menor frecuencia. Ocho (20.5%) pacientes presentaron anemia. Solo 5 (12.8%) pacientes presentaron hallazgos endoscópicos compatibles con EC. La clasificación Marsh de las biopsias duodenales fueron 0: 5 (12.7%), I: 1 (2.6%), II: 0 (0%), III A: 20 (51.3%), III B: 12 (30.8%) y III C: 1 (2.6%). CONCLUSIONES: La EC debe ser considerada como diagnóstico diferencial de pacientes con síntomas gastrointestinales inespecíficos de larga data, teniendo en cuenta también sus manifestaciones extraintestinales. Para el diagnóstico debe utilizarse la anti TTG como prueba inicial y posteriormente realizar una biopsia duodenal para estadiaje.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) is a condition in which gluten intake develops an autoimmune response genetaring intestinal villous atrophy, causing malabsorption. Prevalence worlwide is approximately 1%, in our country it is not known. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, descriptive, observational study in Anglo American Clinic between September 2004 and February 2012. We reviewed the medical charts, upper Gl endoscopy reports and duodenal biopsy reports of all patients with positive anti TTG results, who were older than 18 years of age. RESULTS: We studied 39 cases, 26 (66.7%) women and 13 (33.3%) men. Mean age was 61.25 years. The symptoms were chronic diarrhea in 32 (82.1%), abdominal pain in 22 (56.4%), abdominal distention in 14 (35.9%), and others in lower frequency. Eight (20.5%) patients had anemia. Just 5 (12.8%) had upper endoscopy findings consistent with CD, and Marsh classification was: 0: 5 (12.7%), l: 1 (2.6%), ll: 0 (0%), llll A: 20 (51.3%), lll B: 12 (30.8%) y lll C: 1 (2.6%). CONCLUSIONS: CD should be considered as a differential diagnosis of patients with non-specific-long-term gastrointestinal symptoms, extraintestinal symptoms should also be taken into account. Diagnosis should be made with anti TTG as the initial test and posteriorly with a duodenal biopsy for staging.