Roy S, Moulik S, Chaudhuri SJ, Ghosh MK, Goswami RP, Saha B, Chatterjee M. Molecular monitoring of treatment efficacy in human visceral leishmaniasis.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2024;
118:343-345. [PMID:
38223920 DOI:
10.1093/trstmh/trad103]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Focused efforts of the visceral leishmaniasis elimination program have led to a drastic decline in cases, and the present challenge is disease monitoring, which this study aimed to assess.
METHODS
A Leishmania kinetoplastid-targeted qPCR quantified parasite load at disease presentation, and following treatment completion (n=49); an additional 80 cases were monitored after completion of treatment.
RESULTS
The parasite load at disease presentation was 13 461.00 (2560.00-37764.00)/µg gDNA, which upon completion of treatment reduced in 47 of 49 cases to 1(1-1)/µg gDNA, p<0.0001. In 80 cases that presented >2 months post-treatment, their parasite burden similarly decreased to 1(1-1)/µg gDNA except in 6 of 80 cases, which were qPCR positive.
CONCLUSION
In 129 cases of visceral leishmaniasis, qPCR by quantification of parasite burden proved effective for monitoring treatment.
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