Laboratory diagnosis of human brucellosis in Egypt and persistence of the pathogen following treatment

Authors

  • Ayman Marei Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • Ghada Boghdadi Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • Nahla Abdel-Hamed Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • Rasha Hessin Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • Theresia Abdoel KIT Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute / Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT) Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Henk Smits KIT Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute / Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT) Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Fayza Fathey Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.1538

Keywords:

Brucellosis, lateral flow assay, PCR, treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Brucellosis is a major public health problem in Egypt. The Brucella IgM/IgG lateral flow assay was developed as a point-of-care test for the diagnosis of human brucellosis. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the lateral flow assay for use in Egypt.

Methodology: Fifty samples of patients who presented with clinical suspicion of brucellosis over a one-year period were collected.  All samples were subjected to the Brucella IgM/IgG lateral flow assay, serum agglutination test (SAT), rose bengal RB Test (RB), 2- mercapteoethanol (2-ME), culture and PCR. SAT, 2- ME, culture and PCR were retested after the end of the treatment.

Results: Culture and SAT confirmed the diagnosis of brucellosis in twenty patients.  While 90% of the samples were positive by SAT, only 30% and 85% were positive by culture and PCR respectively. The sensitivity of the lateral flow assay calculated for the Brucella IgM/IgG was 95% and specificity was 97%.

Conclusion: These data show that the lateral flow assay is more suitable for diagnosis of brucellosis in Egypt than culture and SAT.  Application of the PCR on serum samples collected during follow-up revealed that the DNA of the pathogen was yet not completely cleared almost 60 days after the start of treatment with doxycycline and ciprofloxacin.

Author Biographies

Ayman Marei, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Assistant Professor in Microbiology and Immunology

Depatment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine,

Ghada Boghdadi, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Lecturer of Immunology

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine,

Nahla Abdel-Hamed, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Lecturer of Microbiology and Immunology

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine,

Rasha Hessin, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Assistant Lecturer of Microbiology and Immunology

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine,

Theresia Abdoel, KIT Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute / Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT) Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Research technician


KIT Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute

Henk Smits, KIT Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute / Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT) Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Research Coordinator Rapid Diagnostics


KIT Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute

Fayza Fathey, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Professor in Microbiology and Immunology

Depatment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine,

Downloads

Published

2011-11-10

How to Cite

1.
Marei A, Boghdadi G, Abdel-Hamed N, Hessin R, Abdoel T, Smits H, Fathey F (2011) Laboratory diagnosis of human brucellosis in Egypt and persistence of the pathogen following treatment. J Infect Dev Ctries 5:786–791. doi: 10.3855/jidc.1538

Issue

Section

Original Articles