Abstract

Background: Early detection of cholera outbreaks is crucial for the implementation of the most appropriate control strategies.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic test for the qualitative determination of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen of Vibrio cholerae O1, from the stool specimen, using specific monoclonal antibodies in comparison to the conventional culture methods.Subjects & Methods: The performance of an immunochromatographic dipstick test (Span, India) specific for Vibrio cholerae was evaluated in Iraq during the 2007 to 25th.January/2009 in cholera outbreak seasons. Fecal specimens were collected from (100) patients with acute watery non bloody diarrhea and tested by dipstick and conventional culture.Results: The results of this study showed that the males prone to be infected with V. cholerae O1 more than females, (61% vs. 39 %) (P>0.05). The mean ± SD age of patients with V. cholerae O1 was (13.5 ± 5.5 years) with no significant difference (P>0.05). Patients under 20 years age group constituted the highest number (57%) with highly significant difference between the age groups (P<0.01).Patients infection with V. cholerae O1 was clearly spread in rural areas with highest percentage (78 %) compared to only (22 %) of patients infected with V. cholerae O1 spread in urban areas with statistical analysis of high significant difference (P < 0.01). The sensitivity of the O1 dipstick on stool samples compared to culture was (94%), with a specificity of (84%).Conclusion: This one-step dipstick test performed well in the diagnosis of V. cholerae in a setting with seasonal outbreaks where rapid tests are most urgently needed.Keywords: Vibrio cholerae, Dipstick, Sensitivity, Specificity.

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The article was added to IASJ on 2012-10-15

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