Mini-FLOTAC as an alternative, non-invasive diagnostic tool for Schistosoma mansoni and other trematode infections in wildlife reservoirs

Abstract

Background Schistosomiasis and food-borne trematodiases are not only of major public health concern, but can also have profound implications for livestock production and wildlife conservation. The zoonotic, multi-host nature of many digenean trematodes is a significant challenge for disease control programmes in endemic areas. However, our understanding of the epidemiological role that animal reservoirs, particularly wild hosts, may play in the transmission of zoonotic trematodiases suffers a dearth of information, with few, if any, standardised, reliable diagnostic tests available. We combined qualitative and quantitative data derived from post-mortem examinations, coprological analyses using the Mini-FLOTAC technique, and molecular tools to assess parasite community composition and the validity of non-invasive methods to detect trematode infections in 89 wild Hubert’s multimammate mice (Mastomys huberti) from northern Senegal. Results Parasites isolated at post-mortem examination were identified as Plagiorchis sp., Anchitrema sp., Echinostoma caproni, Schistosoma mansoni, and a hybrid between Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma bovis. The reports of E. caproni and Anchitrema sp. represent the first molecularly confirmed identifications for these trematodes in definitive hosts of sub-Saharan Africa. Comparison of prevalence estimates derived from parasitological analysis at post-mortem examination and Mini-FLOTAC analysis showed non-significant differences indicating comparable results between the two techniques (P = 1.00 for S. mansoni; P = 0.85 for E. caproni; P = 0.83 for Plagiorchis sp.). A Bayesian model, applied to estimate the sensitivities of the two tests for the diagnosis of Schistosoma infections, indicated similar median posterior probabilities of 83.1% for Mini-FLOTAC technique and 82.9% for post-mortem examination (95% Bayesian credible intervals of 64.0–94.6% and 63.7–94.7%, respectively). Conclusions Our results showed that the Mini-FLOTAC could be applied as an alternative diagnostic technique for the detection of the zoonotic S. mansoni and other trematodes in rodent reservoirs. The implementation of non-invasive diagnostics in wildlife would offer numerous advantages over lethal sampling methodologies, with potential impact on control strategies of zoonotic helminthiases in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa and on fostering a framework of animal use reduction in scientific practice.

Multihost Transmission of Schistosoma mansoni in Senegal, 2015–2018

“…Therefore, the risk for infection among local communities might not be limited to just the warmest hours of the day (diurnal transmission) but also extend to the early morning and late afternoon (crepuscular transmission). The high excretion rates of S. mansoni eggs by M. huberti mice during experimental infections (median intensity 720 eggs/g fecal sample) (45) and field observations (median intensity 262 eggs/g fecal sample) (46) are a warning about the potential contamination of freshwater bodies by parasitized rodents. In our study, fully resolved spatial and temporal dynamics could not be determined.…”

Value of McMaster, Mini-Flotac, and Standard Techniques for Assessment of the Prevalence of Intestinal Helminths Among Schoolchildren in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

“…In the present study, mini-FLOTAC Zn-SO4 was the most sensitive procedure followed by the mini-FLOTAC NaCl, McMaster, FECM, Kato-Katz, and the least one was direct smear, which agreed with Cringoli (2006). In the present study, mini-FLOTAC ZnSO4 was more se-nsitive than mini-FLOTAC NaCl for S. mansoni detection, but mini-FLOTAC NaCl displayed better detection of H. nana and E. vermicularis (Catalano et al, 2019).…”

Analysis of the misdiagnosis of 8 adult cases of paragonimiasis with lung masses as the main manifestation in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

“…The worms migrate or parasitize in the pleural cavity and lungs. Mechanical damage and worm metabolites can stimulate the pleura, producing effusion, with more pleural effusion on the right side than the left side [ 8 ]. The early imaging changes in the 8 patients in this study were similar to those of pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, and lung abscesses, leading to misdiagnosis at the initial diagnosis.…”