Discussion
As schistosomiasis keeps devastating the world, accurate diagnosis is crucial for disease surveillance and monitoring of treatment. Therefore, applying a fast, accurate, and easy-to-read LAMP assay for diagnosing schistosomiasis would significantly combat the global schistosomiasis burden. In this study, we described the outcome of the newly designed
COX1 species-specific SCH-LAMP assay and the predictability of a laboratory-prepared pH-dependent colorimetric buffer.
Archived
urine and stool samples from participants in Tomefa, a schistosomiasis endemic community in Ghana, were analyzed with the newly designed species-specific SCH-LAMP assay. The assays’ sensitivity and specificity were estimated using bayesian latent class analysis.
The positive cases of urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis detected by microscopy increased from 48.76% and 75% to 52% and 97%, respectively, after applying the LAMP assay.
The lowest detection limit was estimated as 0.0122 ng and 1.224 pg for
S. haematobium and
S. mansoni, respectively.
Test sensitivity and specificity were estimated as 93.7% (88.1% - 97.5%) and 89.8% (84.8% - 93.9%), respectively, for the detection of S. haematobium whereas the sensitivity and specificity of S. mansoni detection were 83.4% (78.9% - 87.5%) and 90.6% (84.4% - 95.3%), respectively.The newly designed species-specific SCH-LAMP assay has demonstrated its effectiveness in diagnosing schistosomiasis; hence, its applicability in resource-limited settings is unquestionable. In addition, this tool will aid in the accurate evaluation and monitoring of mass drug administration programs.
