Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29100526›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2017

Serological tests for gambiense human African trypanosomiasis detect antibodies in cattle.

Enock Matovu, Annah Kitibwa, Albert Picado, Sylvain Biéler, Paul R Bessell, Joseph Mathu Ndung'u

Open access · goldAbstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 38 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Enock MatovuCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. matovue@covab.mak.ac.ug.
Annah KitibwaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Albert PicadoFoundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, Geneva, Switzerland.
Sylvain BiélerFoundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, Geneva, Switzerland.
Paul R BessellEpi Interventions Ltd., Edinburgh, EH3 5HT, UK.
Joseph Mathu Ndung'uFoundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, Geneva, Switzerland.
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics · CHMakerere University · UG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSerological tests for gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT) detect antibodies to antigens on the cell surface of bloodstream trypanosomes. As trypanosomes that cause animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) also express related antigens, we have evaluated two rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) on cattle in trypanosomiasis endemic and non-endemic regions, to determine whether gHAT serological tests could also be used to screen for AAT.

methodsTwo RDTs, 1G RDT, made with native antigens, and p2G RDT, made with recombinant antigens, were tested on 121 cattle in a trypanosomiasis-free region, and on 312 cattle from a rhodesiense HAT and AAT endemic region. A subset of samples from the endemic region were also tested with two immune trypanolysis (TL) tests. The sensitivity of the tests was estimated by evaluating the result of the RDT on samples that were positive by both microscopy and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) PCR, whilst specificity was the result of the RDT on samples that were negative by ITS PCR and microscopy, and others from the non-endemic region.

resultsThe specificity of the p2G RDT on cattle from the non-endemic region was 97.5% (95% CI: 93.0-99.2%), compared to only 57.9% (95% CI: 48.9-66.3%) for 1G RDT. The specificities of 1G RDT, p2G RDT and TL on endemic control cattle were 14.6% (95% CI: 9.7-21.5%), 22.6% (95% CI: 16.4-30.3%) and 68.3% (95% CI: 59.6-75.9%), respectively. The sensitivities of the tests on trypanosome positive samples were 85.1% (95% CI: 79.1-89.7%), 89.1% (95% CI: 83.7-93.0%) and 59.3% (95% CI: 51.8-66.4%), respectively. Among the same samples, 51.7% were positive by both TL and the 1G RDT.

conclusionsThese serological tests detect cross-reacting antibodies in cattle. The p2G RDT based on recombinant antigens had a high specificity in a non-endemic region, while the 1G RDT had a lower specificity, suggesting cross-reactivity with other pathogens.

Indexed as

Serologic TestsAnimalsAntibodies, ProtozoanAntigens, ProtozoanCattleCattle DiseasesCross ReactionsHumansPolymerase Chain ReactionSensitivity and SpecificityTrypanosoma brucei gambienseTrypanosomiasis, AfricanAntibodies, ProtozoanAntigens, ProtozoanInvariant surface glycoproteinsSerological testsSpecificityTrypanosomesVariant surface glycoproteins

Identifiers

PMID29100526
PMCPMC5670715
OpenAlexW2765828997

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.