Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38662642›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2024

Sampling is decisive to determination of Leishmania (Viannia) species.

Maxy B De Los Santos, Steev Loyola, Erika S Perez-Velez, Rocio Del Pilar Santos, Ivonne Melissa Ramírez, Hugo O Valdivia

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 13% 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

5 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Leishmaniasis Incidence andPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
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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 4 institutions in 1 country.

Maxy B De Los SantosDepartment of Parasitology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH (NAMRU SOUTH), Bellavista, Lima, Peru.ORCID 0000-0002-3379-4869
Steev LoyolaFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
Erika S Perez-VelezDepartamento Académico de Medicina Humana, Universidad Andina del Cusco, Cusco, Peru.
Rocio Del Pilar SantosVysnova, Lima, Peru.
Ivonne Melissa RamírezFacultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Cercado de Lima, Lima, Peru.
Hugo O ValdiviaDepartment of Parasitology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH (NAMRU SOUTH), Bellavista, Lima, Peru.
United States Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH · PENational University of San Marcos · PEUniversidad Andina del Cusco · PEUniversidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia · PE

Funding

Armed Forces Health Surveillance DivisionGlobal Emerging Infection Surveillance Branch
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccuracy of molecular tools for the identification of parasites that cause human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) could largely depend on the sampling method. Non-invasive or less-invasive sampling methods such as filter paper imprints and cotton swabs are preferred over punch biopsies and lancet scrapings for detection methods of Leishmania based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) because they are painless, simple, and inexpensive, and of benefit to military and civilian patients to ensure timely treatment. However, different types of samples can generate false negatives and there is a clear need to demonstrate which sample is more proper for molecular assays. METHODOLOGY: Here, we compared the sensitivity of molecular identification of different Leishmania (Viannia) species from Peru, using three types of sampling: punch biopsy, filter paper imprint and lancet scraping. Different composite reference standards and latent class models allowed to evaluate the accuracy of the molecular tools. Additionally, a quantitative PCR assessed variations in the results and parasite load in each type of sample. PRINCIPAL

findingsDifferent composite reference standards and latent class models determined higher sensitivity when lancet scrapings were used for sampling in the identification and determination of Leishmania (Viannia) species through PCR-based assays. This was consistent for genus identification through kinetoplastid DNA-PCR and for the determination of species using FRET probes-based Nested Real-Time PCR. Lack of species identification in some samples correlated with the low intensity of the PCR electrophoretic band, which reflects the low parasite load in samples.

conclusionsThe type of clinical sample can directly influence the detection and identification of Leishmania (Viannia) species. Here, we demonstrated that lancet scraping samples consistently allowed the identification of more leishmaniasis cases compared to filter paper imprints or biopsies. This procedure is inexpensive, painless, and easy to implement at the point of care and avoids the need for anesthesia, surgery, and hospitalization and therefore could be used in resource limited settings for both military and civilian populations.

Indexed as

LeishmaniaLeishmaniasis, CutaneousSensitivity and SpecificityBiopsyDNA, ProtozoanHumansMolecular Diagnostic TechniquesPeruPolymerase Chain ReactionSpecimen HandlingDNA, Protozoan

Identifiers

PMID38662642
PMCPMC11045131
OpenAlexW4395450652

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.