Abstract
Abdominal angiostrongyliasis (AA) is a zoonotic disease caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis, which is endemic in southern Brazil. Humans become infected by ingesting third-stage (L3) larvae and are considered accidental hosts since neither eggs nor first-stage (L1) larvae are found in feces. The definitive diagnosis can be made by histopathologic examination of surgical specimens or intestinal biopsies. The present study assessed the use of PCR to carry out the molecular detection of AA from serum samples. A total of 62 human serum samples were divided into three groups: (i) 28 serum samples from human patients with presumptive histopathological diagnosis of AA; (ii) 23 serum samples from individuals with unknown serology for AA; (iii) 11 serum samples from patients that suffered from different parasitosis were included. The serum samples were initially tested by in-house indirect ELISA and then by PCR. A total of 14 samples were positive by ELISA, and 6 were positive by PCR. Six samples that were negative by ELISA were positive by PCR. Amplicons were sequenced, and Angiostrongylus DNA was confirmed. We conclude that PCR amplification can be used to confirm Angiostrongylus DNA in serum, which is especially important in cases where antibody levels are too low to be detected. It may also serve as a useful target for survey studies.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful for the ongoing support of the Graduate Program in Bioexperimentation at the University of Passo Fundo. We also thank Dr. Sukwan Handali from the Immunochemistry Laboratory of the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC–USA), for all his support on I-ELISA tests.
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All authors contributed to the conception and design of the study. Francieli Ubirajara India Amaral and Maria Isabel Botelho Vieira conceived the ideas. Carlos Graeff-Teixeira and Sukwan Handali provided the human serum samples. Francieli Ubirajara India Amaral, Natalie Renata Zorzi, Lucas Figueiredo Soveral, Alessandra Loureiro Morassutti, and Maria Isabel Botelho Vieira designed the methodology and collected the data. Rafael Frandoloso, Rubens Rodriguez, Alessandra Loureiro Morassutti, and Maria Isabel Botelho Vieira analyzed the data. Francieli Ubirajara India Amaral, Alessandra Loureiro Morassutti, Maria Isabel Botelho Vieira, and Rafael Frandoloso wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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All procedures were approved and performed in accordance with the requirements of the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Passo Fundo, No. 4.107.686.
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Amaral, F.U.I., Zorzi, N.R., Soveral, L.F. et al. Molecular diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis by PCR using serum samples. Parasitol Res 122, 381–385 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07763-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07763-6