@article{fdi:010083149,
  title = {{T}rypanosome {SL}-{RNA} detection in blood and cerebrospinal fluid to demonstrate active gambiense human {A}frican trypanosomiasis infection},
  author = {{L}ukusa, {I}. {N}. and {V}an {R}eet, {N}. and {N}goyi, {D}. {M}. and {M}iaka, {E}. {M}. and {M}asumu, {J}. and {P}yana, {P}. {P}. and {M}utombo, {W}. and {N}golo, {D}. and {K}obo, {V}. and {A}kwaso, {F}. and {I}lunga, {M}. and {K}aninda, {L}. and {M}utanda, {S}. and {M}uamba, {D}. {M}. and {M}ordt, {O}. {V}. and {T}arral, {A}. and {R}embry, {S}. and {B}uscher, {P}. and {L}ejon, {V}eerle},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {S}pliced {L}eader ({SL}) trypanosome {RNA} is detectable only in the presence of live trypanosomes, is abundant and the {T}rypanozoon subgenus has a unique sequence. {A}s previously shown in blood from {G}uinean human {A}frican trypanosomiasis ({HAT}) patients, {SL}-{RNA} is an accurate target for diagnosis. {D}etection of {SL}-{RNA} in the cerebrospinal fluid ({CSF}) has never been attempted. {I}n a large group of {C}ongolese gambiense {HAT} patients, the present study aims i) to confirm the sensitivity of {SL}-{RNA} detection in the blood and; ii) to assess the diagnostic performance of {SL}-{RNA} compared to trypanosome detection in {CSF}. {M}ethodology/{P}rincipal findings {B}lood and {CSF} from 97 confirmed gambiense {HAT} patients from the {D}emocratic {R}epublic of {C}ongo were collected using {PAX}gene blood {RNA} {T}ubes. {B}efore {RNA} extraction, specimens were supplemented with internal extraction control {RNA} to monitor the extraction, which was performed with a {PAX}gene {B}lood {RNA} {K}it. {SL}-{RNA} q{PCR} was carried out with and without reverse transcriptase to monitor {DNA} contamination. {I}n blood, 92/97 (94.8%) {HAT} patients tested {SL}-{RNA} positive, which was significantly more than combined trypanosome detection in lymph and blood (78/97 positive, 80.4%, p = 0.001). {O}f 96 {CSF} {RNA} specimens, 65 (67.7%) were {SL}-{RNA} positive, but there was no significant difference between sensitivity of {SL}-{RNA} and trypanosome detection in {CSF}. {T}he contribution of {DNA} to the {C}q values was negligible. {I}n {CSF} with normal cell counts, a fraction of {SL}-{RNA} might have been lost during extraction as indicated by higher internal extraction control {C}q values. {C}onclusions/{S}ignificance {D}etection of {SL}-{RNA} in blood and {CSF} allows sensitive demonstration of active gambiense {HAT} infection, even if trypanosomes remain undetectable in blood or lymph. {A}s this condition often occurs in treatment failures, {SL}-{RNA} detection in blood and {CSF} for early detection of relapses after treatment deserves further investigation.},
  keywords = {{REPUBLIQUE} {DEMOCRATIQUE} {DU} {CONGO}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {15},
  numero = {9},
  pages = {e0009739 [13 p.]},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0009739},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010083149},
}