| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3417869 | Parasitology International | 2013 | 4 Pages |
The use of urine for the immunodiagnosis of lymphatic filariasis has a definite advantage: the sample collection is not invasive and thus well accepted by people. Urine-based ELISA to detect filaria-specific IgG4 has been used successfully. However, ELISA requires equipment such as a microplate reader, which is often not available in most endemic areas. We have developed a new visual immunodiagnosis that detects urinary IgG4 using red-colored latex beads (bead test). The sensitivity was 87.2% when ICT antigen test positive people were regarded as the standard (136/156), and the specificity was 97.2% with the non-endemic people in Japan and Bangladesh, and the urine ELISA negatives in Sri Lanka (1264/1300). In a prevalence study, the bead test could detect filarial infection more effectively than ICT test among young children in Sri Lanka, indicating the usefulness of the visual test in epidemiological studies.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A diagnostic tool for lymphatic filariasis was developed using colored latex beads. ► The tool detects antigen specific IgG4 in urine and the results are visible. ► Its sensitivity and specificity are 87.2% and 97.2%, respectively. ► The tool is useful to evaluate control programs during and after MDAs.
