Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39272159›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2024

Comparison of multi-parallel quantitative real-time PCRs targeting different DNA regions and detecting soil-transmitted helminths in stool.

Marina Papaiakovou, Rubén O Cimino, Nils Pilotte, Julia Dunn, D Timothy J Littlewood, Steven A Williams, Alejandro J Krolewiecki, Rojelio Mejia

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 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
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Next-generation molecular tools in veterinary parasitology: advances, challenges, and perspectives in the diagnosis of emerging parasites.Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria · 2026
    Review
  4. Article
  5. 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

8 authors.

Marina PapaiakovouDepartment of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA, 01063, USA. mpapaiakovou@gmail.com.
Rubén O CiminoInstituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales (IIET), Universidad Nacional de Salta. Sede Regional Orán, Salta, Argentina.
Nils PilotteDepartment of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA, 01063, USA.
Julia DunnDepartment of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK.
D Timothy J LittlewoodBiodiversity & Health, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK.
Steven A WilliamsDepartment of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA, 01063, USA.
Alejandro J KrolewieckiInstituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales (IIET), Universidad Nacional de Salta. Sede Regional Orán, Salta, Argentina.
Rojelio MejiaInstituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales (IIET), Universidad Nacional de Salta. Sede Regional Orán, Salta, Argentina. rmejia@bcm.edu.

Funding

The Task Force for Global Health primarily by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1190754
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSoil-transmitted helminths infect an estimated 18% of the world's population, causing a significant health burden. Microscopy has been the primary tool for diagnosing eggs from fecal samples, but its sensitivity drops in low-prevalence settings. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is slowly increasing in research and clinical settings. However, there is still no consensus on preferred qPCR targets.

methodsWe aimed to compare soil-transmitted helminth (STH) DNA detection methods by testing naïve stool samples spiked with known quantities of STH eggs and larvae. DNA extracts from spiked samples were tested using independent quantitative realtime PCR (qPCR) assays targeting ribosomal or putative non-protein coding satellite sequences.

resultsFor Trichuris trichiura, there was a strong correlation between egg/larvae counts and qPCR results using either qPCR method (0.86 and 0.87, respectively). Strong correlations also existed for A. lumbricoides (0.60 and 0.63, respectively), but weaker correlations were found for Ancylostoma duodenale (0.41 for both assays) and Strongyloides stercoralis (0.48 and 0.65, respectively). No correlation for Necator americanus was observed when testing with either qPCR assay. Both assays had fair-to-moderate agreement across targets when using field-collected stool samples (0.28-0.45, for all STHs), except for S. stercoralis (0.12) with slight agreement.

conclusionsThere is a strong correlation between qPCR results and egg/larvae counts. Our study confirms that qPCR is an effective diagnostic tool, even with low-intensity infections, regardless of the DNA-based diagnostic marker used. However, the moderate agreement between the two different qPCR assays when testing field samples highlights the need to understand the role of these targets in the genome so that the parasite burden can be quantified more accurately and consistently by qPCR.

Indexed as

DNA, HelminthFecesHelminthiasisHelminthsReal-Time Polymerase Chain ReactionSoilAnimalsHumansParasite Egg CountSensitivity and SpecificityTrichurisDNA, HelminthSoil

Identifiers

PMID39272159
PMCPMC11397029

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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.