Pouched rats as detectors of tuberculosis: comparison to concentrated smear microscopy. Issue 2 (10th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Edwards, Timothy L.; Valverde, Emilio; Mulder, Christiaan; Cox, Christophe; Poling, Alan
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 48:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 579
• Page End: 582
• Publication Date: 2016-06-10
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00264-2016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

In 2014, 1.5 million people died of tuberculosis (TB), a disease that can be cured in nearly every case if detected in time. Rapid and accurate detection of TB is a crucial component of the World Health Organization's 2016–2035 End TB Strategy [1]. Pouched rats, Cricetomys ansorgei (previously called Cricetomys gambianus [2]), are able to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis by sniffing sputum samples [3]. Since 2007, they have been used for second-line screening of sputum samples previously evaluated by Ziehl–Neelsen microscopy (ZN) at clinics in Tanzania. Use of the rats increases new case detections by ∼40% [3]. Pouched rats find 60% of TB patients that are missed by clinics but identifiable with concentrated smear microscopy http://ow.ly/jnUr300i2I7