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M Rasolomaharo

Publications and source records attributed to M Rasolomaharo.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Early diagnosis of bubonic plague using F1 antigen capture ELISA assay and rapid immunogold dipstick.

Plague is still prevalent in more than 20 countries. Two F1 antigen diagnostic assays (an immunocapture ELISA and an immunogold chromatography dipstick) were evaluated using bubo aspirates, serum and urine specimens from patients suspected with plague. The specificity of the two F1 assays was found 100%. Using bacteriology as a gold reference diagnostic assay, 52 patients were Yersinia pestis culture positive and 141 negative. The sensitivity of the F1 ELISA test was 100% in bubo, 52% in serum and 58% in urine specimens. In culture negative patients, the F1 antigen could be found in 10% bubo aspirates, 5% serum and 7% urine specimens of culture negative patients for whom a seroconversion for anti-F1 antibodies was also observed. The sensitivity of the dipstick assay was 98% on bubo aspirates specimens. Compared to the ELISA test, the agreement rate was 97.5% and the correlation coefficient tau = 0.90 (p < 10(-3)). In conclusion, the diagnosis of bubonic plague has to be performed on bubo fluid rather than on serum or urine specimens. Both the F1 ELISA and the dipstick assays are valuable tools for an early diagnosis and for the surveillance of plague.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2000

[Plague in the port of Mahajanga: 6 inhabitants out of 1000 carry the anti-F1 antibody in 1999].

The authors report the results of a randomized epidemiological survey aiming to assess the sero-prevalence of plague in the general population > or = 2-year-old in Mahajanga. In 656 sera tested (by ELISA), the prevalence of anti-F1 antibodies was found to be 6.1%@1000 inhabitants, close to the expected prevalence in the area, where plague reappeared in 1991 after 62 years of absence. The study also demonstrated that the shrew, Suncus murinus, is an important reservoir in the plague transmission in Mahajanga.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Cysticercosis in the port of Mahajanga: more frequent than we thought!].

A seroepidemiological survey was carried out in July 1999 to assess the prevalence of cysticercosis in general population in the Mahajanga City (West of Madagascar). Blood specimens were collected from a randomised sample including 626 individuals more than 2 years old. ELISA and confirmative immunoblot techniques (EITB) were used to measure Cysticercus cellulosae antibodies. The overall prevalence by ELISA test was 19% (15.8-22.7% CI95%). Among positive cases, 87% were also positive by EITB. Cysticercosis is considered as major health problem in Madagascar. A national control programme implementation is imperative.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Field evaluation of an immunoglobulin G anti-F1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of human plague in Madagascar.

Bacteriological isolation of Yersinia pestis is the reference test for confirming plague infection, but recovery of the pathogen from human samples is usually very poor. When the etiology of the disease cannot be bacteriologically confirmed, it may be useful to possess alternative tests such as detection of specific circulating antibodies to help guide the diagnosis. In the present study, the immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-F1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been applied to various human sera to evaluate its large-scale applicability in the high-endemicity plague foci of Madagascar. The sensitivity of the test was found to be 91.4%, and its specificity was 98.5%. The positive and negative predictive values were 96 and 96.6%, respectively. Seroconversion was observed on day 7 after onset of the disease. Patients with a positive ELISA result could be separated into high (82%) and low (18%) IgG anti-F1 responders. Cross-reactions with eight other infectious diseases prevalent in Madagascar were scarce and were found in 1 of 27 Mycobacterium tuberculosis-, 3 of 34 Schistosoma haematobium-, and 1 of 41 Salmonella-infected patients. Finally, the efficiency of the IgG anti-F1 ELISA was evaluated during the Mahajanga, Madagascar, plague outbreak of 1995. When the number of ELISA-positive patients was added to the number of bacteriologically confirmed and probable cases, the number of positive patients was increased by 35%. In conclusion, although it does not replace bacteriology, IgG anti-F1 ELISA is a useful and powerful tool for retrospective diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance of plague outbreaks.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1997

Urban epidemic of bubonic plague in Majunga, Madagascar: epidemiological aspects.

After an absence of 62 years, an epidemic of plague occurred in the harbour city of Majunga (Madagascar) from July 1995 to March 1996, following sporadic cases in March and May 1995. By 15 March 1996, 617 clinically suspected cases of bubonic plague had been notified. Laboratory testing was carried out for 394 individuals: 60 (15.2%) were confirmed to have bubonic plague and 48 (12.2%) were considered as presumptive cases. The incidence was significantly higher in males in all age groups and in both sexes in the 5-19 age group. Twenty-four deaths were related to plague, but early treatment with streptomycin has confirmed its effectiveness insofar as the case-farality ratio was only 8.7% among confirmed and presumptive cases admitted to hospital. The difficulty of clinically diagnosing bubonic plague was affirmed. The disease met favourable conditions through the poverty and low level of hygiene prevalent in most parts of Majunga.

Adolescent↗