Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32833981›Full record

ArticlePloS one2020

Comparison of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and PCR for the diagnosis of infection with Trypanosoma brucei ssp. in equids in The Gambia.

Lauren Gummery, Saloum Jallow, Alexandra G Raftery, Euan Bennet, Jean Rodgers, David G M Sutton

Open access · goldAbstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 19% 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

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Rapid Point-of-Care Detection ofAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
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.

Lauren GummeryWeipers Centre Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-7667-9572
Saloum JallowGambia Horse and Donkey Trust, Sambel Kunda, The Gambia.
Alexandra G RafteryWeipers Centre Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-4365-7654
Euan BennetWeipers Centre Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Jean RodgersInstitute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
David G M SuttonWeipers Centre Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
University of Glasgow · GBUniversity of the Gambia · GM

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionInfection of equids with Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei) ssp. is of socioeconomic importance across sub-Saharan Africa as the disease often progresses to cause fatal meningoencephalitis. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has been developed as a cost-effective molecular diagnostic test and is potentially applicable for use in field-based laboratories. PART I: Threshold levels for T. brucei ssp. detection by LAMP were determined using whole equine blood specimens spiked with known concentrations of parasites. Results were compared to OIE antemortem gold standard of T. brucei-PCR (TBR-PCR). RESULTS I: Threshold for detection of T. brucei ssp. on extracted DNA from whole blood was 1 parasite/ml blood for LAMP and TBR-PCR, and there was excellent agreement (14/15) between tests at high (1 x 103/ml) concentrations of parasites. Detection threshold was 100 parasites/ml using LAMP on whole blood (LWB). Threshold for LWB improved to 10 parasites/ml with detergent included. Performance was excellent for LAMP at high (1 x 103/ml) concentrations of parasites (15/15, 100%) but was variable at lower concentrations. Agreement between tests was weak to moderate, with the highest for TBR-PCR and LAMP on DNA extracted from whole blood (Cohen's kappa 0.95, 95% CI 0.64-1.00). PART II: A prospective cross-sectional study of working equids meeting clinical criteria for trypanosomiasis was undertaken in The Gambia. LAMP was evaluated against subsequent TBR-PCR. RESULTS II: Whole blood samples from 321 equids in The Gambia were processed under field conditions. There was weak agreement between LWB and TBR-PCR (Cohen's kappa 0.34, 95% CI 0.19-0.49) but excellent agreement when testing CSF (100% agreement on 6 samples).

conclusionsFindings support that LAMP is comparable to PCR when used on CSF samples in the field, an important tool for clinical decision making. Results suggest repeatability is low in animals with low parasitaemia. Negative samples should be interpreted in the context of clinical presentation.

Indexed as

AnimalsCross-Sectional StudiesDNA, ProtozoanFemaleGambiaHorse DiseasesHorsesMaleMolecular Diagnostic TechniquesNucleic Acid Amplification TechniquesPolymerase Chain ReactionProspective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityTrypanosoma brucei bruceiTrypanosomiasis, AfricanDNA, Protozoan

Identifiers

PMID32833981
PMCPMC7444819
OpenAlexW3043925764

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.