RESUMO
Definitive identification of Angiostrongylus cantonensis parasites from clinical specimens is difficult. As a result, regional epidemiology and burden are poorly characterized. To ascertain presence of this parasite in patients in Laos with eosinophilic meningitis, we performed quantitative PCRs on 36 cerebrospinal fluid samples; 4 positive samples confirmed the parasite's presence.
Assuntos
Angiostrongylus cantonensis/genética , DNA de Helmintos/genética , Eosinofilia/diagnóstico , Meningite/diagnóstico , Alimentos Crus/parasitologia , Infecções por Strongylida/diagnóstico , Adulto , Angiostrongylus cantonensis/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Estudos de Coortes , DNA de Helmintos/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Eosinofilia/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Eosinofilia/parasitologia , Comportamento Alimentar , Humanos , Laos , Masculino , Meningite/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Meningite/parasitologia , Caramujos/parasitologia , Infecções por Strongylida/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Infecções por Strongylida/parasitologia , Infecções por Strongylida/transmissãoRESUMO
The 100% oxygen shunt test for detecting right-to-left anatomical shunting was originally described 70â years ago. However, its clinical value is not yet established. We conducted an audit in 80 patients undergoing the test between 1996 and 2012 in a tertiary referral centre. A significant difference (p=0.02) existed between the median shunt percentages where anatomical shunting was identified (10.2%) and absent (5.0%). The area under the curve for a ROC plot was 0.70. A shunt percentage of 8.3 had a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 75% for detection of an anatomic shunt. We conclude the test is satisfactory for the first-line investigation for anatomic shunting.
