Published in
Public Library of Science, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 5(7), p. e2219, 2013
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002219
Links
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- [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] | PDF
- [espace.library.uq.edu.au]
- [europepmc.org] | PDF
- [www.researchgate.net] | PDF
- [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] | PDF
- [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] | PDF
Tools
The Iron Distribution and Magnetic Properties of Schistosome Eggshells: Implications for Improved Diagnostics
,
Jeremy A. Shaw ,
Alexandra Suvorova,
Andreas Hofmann ,
Michael J. House,
Robert C. Woodward ,
Carlos Graeff-Teixera,
Timothy G. St. Pierre,
Malcolm K. Jones
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Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying a novel diagnostic method for Schistosoma – one of the most widespread and frequently occurring parasites infecting humans in tropical countries. In recent years, the world has seen significant reduction in the burden of Schistosoma infections in many countries due to improved control and sanitation. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to evaluate and monitor the progress of control towards elimination. At the moment it is extremely difficult to determine whether the parasite has been eliminated from a region. This is due to the absence of a sensitive and inexpensive method to detect the parasite. A series of recent studies describes a method with vastly improved diagnostic sensitivity based on the magnetic fractionation of parasite eggs from fecal samples. However, the mechanisms of action of this new diagnostic are not currently known. To further optimize and improve this method, we studied the magnetic properties of parasite eggshells and their binding characteristics to magnetic microspheres.