Affiliation:
1. Amhara National Regional State Health Bureau, Bahir Dar Health Science College, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
2. Departments of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Abstract
Background. Soil-transmitted helminths are parasitic nematodes found in the intestine. They are more prevalent in the tropics and subtropics, including Ethiopia. However, low-sensitive direct wet mount microscopy fails to detect soil-transmitted helminths among infected cases. Therefore, more sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic methods are urgently needed to minimize soil-transmitted helminthiasis morbidity. Objective. This study aimed to compare and evaluate the performance of diagnostic methods for soil-transmitted helminths against the “gold” standard. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 421 schoolchildren from May to July, 2022 in the Amhara Region. Study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Stool samples were processed via Kato–Katz, McMaster, and spontaneous tube sedimentation techniques. Data were entered into epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated against the combined result as a “gold” standard. The strength of agreement between the diagnostic methods was determined by the Kappa value. Results. The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths was 32.8% (95% CI: 28.2–37.8%) using a combination of methods. The detection rates of Kato–Katz, McMaster, and spontaneous tube sedimentation were 28.5% (95% CI: 24.2–33.2%), 30% (95% CI: 25.6–34.8%), and 30.5% (95% CI: 26.1–35.3%), respectively. Sensitivity and negative predictive values were 87.1% (95% CI: 80.2–92.3%) and 95.1% (95% CI: 92.6–96.8%) for Kato–Katz; 91.7% (95% CI: 85.6–95.6%) and 96.5% (95% CI: 94.1–98.0%) for McMaster; and 93.2% (95% CI: 87.5–96.8%) and 97.1% (95% CI: 94.7–98.4%) for spontaneous tube sedimentation. Kappa values of Kato–Katz, McMaster, and spontaneous tube sedimentation for the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminths were 0.901, 0.937, and 0.948, respectively. Conclusion. Kato–Katz, McMaster, and spontaneous tube sedimentation techniques had comparable sensitivity with almost perfect agreement for the detection of soil-transmitted helminths. Therefore, the spontaneous tube sedimentation technique can be used as an alternative diagnostic method for soil-transmitted helminth infections in endemic countries.
Funder
Amhara Regional Health Bureau
Subject
General Medicine,Microbiology,Parasitology
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