| |
Web Content Display
Lymphatic filariasis Diagnostic Strategies
- To confirm a clinical case
For individual diagnosis, one can combine blood examination for microfilariae with an antigen detection assay. As a screening test for people returning from endemic countries, serology has some diagnostic value.
- To screen populations in W. bancrofti endemic areas
The most convenient method is to detect antigens using a rapid diagnostic test.
- To evaluate a control programme
The sensitivity of parasitological diagnosis is too low to detect new infections in an area under control. One might either search for infected mosquitoes using an antigen detection or a PCR method or detect circulating filarial antigens in exposed individuals. |
