Trypanosomes were observed in a peripheral blood smear from a 45-day-old Thai infant displaying fever, anaemia, cough and anorexia. Human trypanosomiasis is not endemic to Thailand, so parasite identification was undertaken to determine likely sources of the infection. Several morphological parameters of the trypanosomes were similar to those of Trypanosoma evansi and statistically different from those of Trypanosoma lewisi-like parasites from a naturally infected indigenous rat. However, duplicate PCR assays with primers flanking trypanosome rRNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) resulted in amplicons of ~623 bp that corresponded to the expected size for T. lewisi-like parasites. The ITS1 sequence from the infant's blood was 98 and 49% identical to T. lewisi and T. evansi sequences, respectively. Based on molecular results, it was concluded that the infant was infected with a T. lewisi-like (Herpetosoma) species.
Hemoglobin (Hb) A2 (alpha2delta2) is a minor hemoglobin in human red blood cells. An abnormal increase in the level of HbA2 is the most significant parameter in the diagnosis of beta-thalassemia carriers. In this study, we produced two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that specifically react to the delta-globin chain of HbA2. A sandwich type ELISA was developed employing the produced anti-HbA2 mAbs. HbA2 levels quantified by the developed sandwich ELISA were highly correlated with those obtained from the standard HPLC method (r = 0.934, p < 0.001). HbA2 levels determined by the ELISA were 4.4 +/- 1.9% in beta-thalassemia heterozygotes compared to 1.4 +/- 0.8, 1.9 +/- 0.8, 1.5 +/- 0.8 and 1.5 +/- 0.6% in normal subjects, HbE heterozygotes, suspected alpha-thalassemia heterozygotes and HbE homozygotes, respectively. Using a cut-off value of 2.5%, beta-thalassemia heterozygotes could be separated from non-beta-thalassemia heterozygotes with the same accuracy as obtained using the standard HPLC method. More importantly, the developed ELISA was able to determine HbA2 levels in HbE-bearing individuals which could not be done by the HPLC method. Our results suggest that this sandwich ELISA can be applied for mass screening for beta-thalassemia heterozygotes, especially in resource-limited countries, where beta-thalassemia is highly prevalent.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.