Deng MH, Zhong LY, Kamolnetr O, Limpanont Y, Lv ZY. Detection of helminths by loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay: a review of updated technology and future outlook.
Infect Dis Poverty 2019;
8:20. [PMID:
30905322 PMCID:
PMC6432754 DOI:
10.1186/s40249-019-0530-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Helminths are endemic in more than half of the world’s countries, raising serious public health concerns. Accurate diagnosis of helminth infection is crucial to control strategies. Traditional parasitological methods, serological tests and PCR-based assays are the major means of the diagnosis of helminth infection, but they are time-consuming and/or expensive, and sometimes provide inaccurate results. Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, a sensitive, simple and rapid method was therefore developed for detection of helminths. This study aims to discuss the current status of application of LAMP on helminths detection and to make a comprehensive evaluation about this updated technology and its future outlook by comparing with several other diagnostic methods.
Main body
This review summarizes LAMP assay applied for helminth detection and helminthiasis surveillance. The basic principle of LAMP is introduced to help better understand its characteristics and each reported assay is assessed mainly based on its detection sensitivity, specificity and limitations, in comparison with other common diagnostic tests. Moreover, we discuss the limitations of the assays so as to clarify some potential ways of improvement.
Conclusions
Here, we summarize and discuss the advantages, disadvantages and promising future of LAMP in heliminth detection, which is expected to help update current knowledge and future perspectives of LAMP in highly sensitive and specific diagnosis and surveillance of helminthiasis and other parasitic diseases, and can contribute to the elimination of the diseases from endemic areas.
Electronic supplementary material
The online version of this article (10.1186/s40249-019-0530-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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