PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 9, No. 1, April 2025
Pages 329-336
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/5202/90.0140
Comparison of the Point-Of-Care Circulating Cathodic Antigen Assay with Kato-Katz and Polymer-ase Chain Reaction Tests in the Diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni
Vincent P. Gyang1*, Timothy N. Ejike1, Oluwatomilola V. Tokun2, Joseph Jonathan2, Adedotun Bayegun2, Maryam Patrobas3, Jacob B. Ajayi4, Conor R. Caffrey5, Olaoluwa P. Akinwale1,.
1Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, 6, Edmund Crescent, P.M.B 2013, Yaba, Lagos – Nigeria.
2Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
3Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Nigeria.
4Microbiology Unit, Ogun state Institute of Technology, Oba Adesola market road, Igbesa, Ogun state, Nigeria.
5Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 9255 Pharmacy Lane, MC0657, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Abstract
Background: The Point-of-Care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) rapid test cassettes for diagnosing Schistosoma mansoni infection have been evaluated in several countries, but data from Nigeria, Africa’s most endemic country for schistosomiasis, are sparse.
Method: A total of 245 matching stool and urine samples were collected from pre-school and school-aged chil-dren in three communities in Ogun state. The samples were screened using the CCA assay, Kato-Katz (KK), and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods, and the results were compared.
Result: Our overall data show that of the 245 samples analysed, KK captured 23 (9.4%) as positive, whereas 47 (19.2%) were positive by the CCA test, and 60 (24.5%) were positive by PCR (p<0.0001). Comparing the CCA assay with the PCR, the sensitivity and specificity of the CCA assay were 78 and 94%, respectively, while its positive and negative predictive values were 80 and 93%, respectively.
Conclusion: This study evaluated the CCA assay and showed it to be more sensitive than the standard KK mi-croscopy and could be a possible replacement, along with its ease of use. The PCR assay was the most sensitive, suggesting it could be used for quality control of both methods, especially in areas of very low endemicity. The PCR will also help monitor control and elimination programs.
Keywords: Point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen assay (POC-CCA), Kato-Katz (KK), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Diagnosis, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosomiasis.