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Cholette F, Périnet S, Neufeld B, Bryson M, Macri J, Sibley KM, Kim J, Driedger SM, Becker ML, Sandstrom P, Meyers AFA, Paquette D. Validity of dried blood spot testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections: A narrative systematic review. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0003320. [PMID: 38875246 PMCID: PMC11178196 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using dried blood spot (DBS) specimens has been an integral part of bio-behavioural surveillance in Canada for almost two decades, though less is known regarding the use of DBS in surveillance of other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI). A systematic review was conducted using a peer-reviewed search strategy to assess the current evidence regarding the validity of STBBI testing using DBS specimens. Eligibility criteria included studies reporting use of DBS specimens for STBBI testing with either commercially available or "in-house" tests in populations 15 years of age or older. Studies reporting a measure of validity such as sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were eligible for inclusion. Quality of studies and risk of bias were assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A total of 7,132 records were identified. Of these, 174 met the criteria for inclusion. Among the studies that reported validity measures, a substantial proportion demonstrated high sensitivity (≥90%) in 62.5% of cases (N = 334/534 sensitivity measurements), and high specificity (≥90%) was observed in 84.9% of instances (N = 383/451 specificity measurements). However, the quality of the studies varied greatly. Our findings support the validity of the use of DBS specimens in STBBI testing where sufficient evidence was available, but validity is highly dependent on thorough method development and validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Cholette
- National Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection Laboratory, National Microbiology Laboratory at the J. C. Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Simone Périnet
- Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection Surveillance Division, Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Bronwyn Neufeld
- National Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection Laboratory, National Microbiology Laboratory at the J. C. Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Maggie Bryson
- Horizontal Surveillance Operations Division, Centre for Corporate Surveillance Coordination, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Jennifer Macri
- Public Health Data Science and Systems, Data Management, Innovation and Analytics, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Kathryn M Sibley
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - John Kim
- National Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection Laboratory, National Microbiology Laboratory at the J. C. Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - S Michelle Driedger
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Marissa L Becker
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Paul Sandstrom
- National Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection Laboratory, National Microbiology Laboratory at the J. C. Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Adrienne F A Meyers
- National Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection Laboratory, National Microbiology Laboratory at the J. C. Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Office of Population and Public Health, Indigenous Services Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Dana Paquette
- Horizontal Surveillance Operations Division, Centre for Corporate Surveillance Coordination, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
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Morgan CE, Powers KA, Edwards JK, Devkota U, Biju S, Lin FC, Schmitz JL, Cloherty G, Muwonga J, Mboyo A, Tshiamala P, Kashamuka MM, Tshefu A, Emch M, Yotebieng M, Becker-Dreps S, Parr JB, Thompson P. Characterizing hepatitis B virus infection in children in the Democratic Republic of Congo to inform elimination efforts. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.06.12.24308840. [PMID: 38947057 PMCID: PMC11213086 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.12.24308840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Objective Despite global reductions in hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence, an estimated 6.2 million children are infected, two-thirds of whom live in the WHO Africa region. We sought to characterize childhood HBV to inform elimination efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the largest and most populous African countries. Methods Using the most recent (2013-14) nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey in the DRC, we analyzed HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) on dried blood spots and associated survey data from children aged 6-59 months. We estimated HBsAg-positivity prevalence nationally, regionally, and by potential correlates of infection. We evaluated spatial variation in HBsAg-positivity prevalence, overall and by age, sex, and vaccination status. Findings Using data from 5,679 children, we found national HBsAg-positivity prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.9%-1.7%), but ranged from 0.0% in DRC's capital city province, Kinshasa, to 5.6% in northwestern Sud-Ubangi Province. Prevalence among boys (1.8%, 95% CI: 1.2%-2.7%) was double that among girls (0.7%, 95%CI: 0.4%-1.3%). Tetanus antibody-negativity, rurality, and lower household wealth were also significantly associated with higher HBsAg-positivity prevalence. We observed no difference in prevalence by age. Children had higher HBsAg-positivity odds if living with ≥1 HBsAg-positive adult household member (OR: 2.3, 95%CI: 0.7-7.8), particularly an HBsAg-positive mother (OR: 7.2, 95%CI:1.6-32.2). Conclusion In the largest national survey of HBV among children and household contacts in the DRC, we found that childhood HBV prevalence was 10-60 times the global target of 0.1%. We highlight specific regions and populations for further investigation and focused prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Morgan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - K A Powers
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - J K Edwards
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - U Devkota
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - S Biju
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - F C Lin
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - J L Schmitz
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - J Muwonga
- Programme National de Lutte Contre le SIDA, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - A Mboyo
- Programme National de Lutte Contre le SIDA, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - P Tshiamala
- National Hepatitis Control Program, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - M M Kashamuka
- École de Santé Publique, Université de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - A Tshefu
- École de Santé Publique, Université de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - M Emch
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - M Yotebieng
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - S Becker-Dreps
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - J B Parr
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - P Thompson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Motshosi P, Phinius BB, Jongman M, Baruti K, Bhebhe L, Choga WT, Moyo S, Gaseitsiwe S, Anderson M. OPTIMIZATION OF DRIED BLOOD SPOT ASSAYS FOR HEPATITIS B VIRUS SURFACE ANTIBODY QUANTIFICATION. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.23.595500. [PMID: 38826424 PMCID: PMC11142191 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.23.595500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Dried blood spot (DBS) cards can be used as an alternative sample collection method to plasma, however, there is no optimized elution protocol for DBS cards specifically for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) testing. The study aimed to develop a DBS elution protocol for anti-HBs quantification. Our study sought to determine the ideal phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer volume to use by comparing three PBS volumes (300uL, 450uL, and 500uL), and the optimal time to agitate DBS discs on a plate shaker (1hr, 2hrs, 3hrs, and 4hrs) to yield DBS anti-HBs concentrations that are comparable to corresponding plasma anti-HBs concentrations. The optimal DBS storage temperature (25°C, -20°C, and -80°C) was investigated to determine the ideal long-term storage temperature of the cards. Residual samples were used for optimization (2019-2021). A total of 50 DBS-plasma pairs was used throughout the study, with plasma anti-HBs concentrations being used as the golden standard to compare. The analysis of results was carried out by determining the p-values of the Wilcoxon sign rank. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also performed to determine the impact of PBS elution volumes, elution time, and storage temperature on the anti-HBs concentration of DBS samples on STATA Version 15.0. No statistically significant difference between the DBS-plasma anti-HBs pairs was observed when using 450 or 500uL of PBS buffer and when samples were agitated for 3 hours (p=0.594, p=0.499 respectively). The optimal storage temperature for DBS cards was 25°C because the results showed no statistically significant difference between DBS-plasma anti-HBs titers (p=0.594). The two-way ANOVA analysis showed that elution volumes and time had no statistically significant impact on the DBS anti-HBs concentrations, p=0.948 and p=0.381 respectively. Storage temperature had a statistically significant impact on the DBS anti-HBs concentrations, p=0.002. The optimized DBS elution protocol for anti-HBs quantification will help monitor vaccine efficacy in infants due to the low sample volumes required compared to plasma and also can be used for anti-HBs testing in resource-limited areas around the country.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bonolo B. Phinius
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | - Kabo Baruti
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | - Wonderful T. Choga
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Sikhulile Moyo
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Simani Gaseitsiwe
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Motswedi Anderson
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- University of KwaZulu Natal
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Koulman A, Rennie KL, Parkington D, Tyrrell CSB, Catt M, Gkrania-Klotsas E, Wareham NJ. The development, validation and application of remote blood sample collection in telehealth programmes. J Telemed Telecare 2024; 30:731-738. [PMID: 35538704 PMCID: PMC11027437 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x221093434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The ability to collect blood samples remotely without the involvement of healthcare professionals is a key element of future telehealth applications. We developed and validated the application of the Drawbridge OneDraw device for use at home for blood sample collection. The device was then applied in a large population-based remote monitoring study to assess changes in SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels. METHODS We tested: (1) feasibility of participants using the device at home without a healthcare professional on the upper arm and thigh sites (2) stability of the dried blood sample collected remotely (3) participant acceptability of the device compared with finger-prick and venous blood samples and the validity of SARS-CoV-2 virus antibody measurement versus venous blood sample (4) application to the Fenland COVID-19 study in which 4023 participants at 3 timepoints across 6 months. RESULTS Participant acceptability was high, with a significantly lower median perceived pain score and 76% of participants preferring the OneDraw device over the other blood collection methods. There was high level of agreement in SARS-CoV-2 virus antibody results with venous blood samples in 120 participants (Cohen's kappa 0.68 (95% CI 0.56, 0.83). In the Fenland COVID-19 study, 92% of participants returned a sample at baseline (3702/4023), 89% at 3 months (3492/3918) and 93% at 6 months (3453/3731), with almost all samples received successfully processed (99.9%). DISCUSSION The OneDraw device enables a standardised blood sample collection at home by participants themselves. Due to its ease-of-use and acceptability the OneDraw device is particularly useful in telehealth approaches where multiple samples need to be collected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Koulman
- Albert Koulman and Kirsten Rennie contributed equally to this paper
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kirsten L Rennie
- Albert Koulman and Kirsten Rennie contributed equally to this paper
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Damon Parkington
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carina SB Tyrrell
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael Catt
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicholas J Wareham
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
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Packham A, Taylor AE, Karangwa MP, Sherry E, Muvunyi C, Green CA. Measles Vaccine Coverage and Disease Outbreaks: A Systematic Review of the Early Impact of COVID-19 in Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries. Int J Public Health 2024; 69:1606997. [PMID: 38725903 PMCID: PMC11079172 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1606997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate changes to measles-containing vaccine (MCV) provision and subsequent measles disease cases in low- and lower-middle income countries (LICs, LMICs) in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic search was conducted of MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE and PubMed records. Primary quantitative and qualitative research studies published from January 2020 were included if they reported on COVID-19 impact on MCV provision and/or measles outbreak rates within LICs and LMICs. Results: 45 studies were included. The change in MCV1 vaccination coverage in national and international regions ranged -13% to +44.4% from pre-COVID time periods. In local regions, the median MCV1 and overall EPI rate changed by -23.3% and -28.5% respectively. Median MCV2 rate was disproportionally impacted in local areas during COVID-interruption time-periods (-48.2%) with ongoing disruption in early-recovery time-periods (-17.7%). 8.9% of studies reported on vaccination status of confirmed measles cases; from these, 71%-91% had received no MCV dose. Conclusion: MCV vaccination coverage experienced ongoing disruption during the recovery periods after initial COVID-19 disruption. Vaccination in local area datasets notably experienced longer-term disruption compared to nationally reported figures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Packham
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alice E. Taylor
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Emma Sherry
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Christopher A. Green
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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6
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Morgan CE, Ngimbi P, Boisson-Walsh AJN, Ntambua S, Matondo J, Tabala M, Kashamuka MM, Emch M, Edwards JK, Powers KA, James L, Mbonze N, Mampunza S, Yotebieng M, Thompson P, Parr JB. Hepatitis B Virus Prevalence and Transmission in the Households of Pregnant Women in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae150. [PMID: 38623568 PMCID: PMC11017325 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization Africa region has high regional hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence, and evidence suggests more frequent horizontal HBV transmission than other regions. Context-specific epidemiological studies are needed to inform additional HBV prevention measures. Methods In the cross-sectional Horizontal and Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B (HOVER-HBV) study, we introduced HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) screening alongside existing HIV screening as part of routine antenatal care in high-volume maternity clinics in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. We recruited households of pregnant women ("index mothers") who were HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative, defining households as index-positive and index-negative, respectively. Household members underwent HBsAg testing and an epidemiological survey. We evaluated HBsAg prevalence and potential transmission correlates. Results We enrolled 1006 participants from 200 households (100 index-positive, 100 index-negative) across Kinshasa. HBsAg-positivity prevalence was more than twice as high in index-positive households (5.0% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.8%-7.1%]) as in index-negative households (1.9% [95% CI, .6%-3.2%]). HBsAg-positivity prevalence was 3.3 (95% CI, .9-11.8) times as high among direct offspring in index-positive versus index-negative households. Factors associated with HBsAg positivity included older age, marriage, and having multiple recent partners or any new sexual partners among index mothers; and older age, lower household wealth, sharing nail clippers, and using street salons among offspring in index-positive households. Conclusions Vertical and horizontal HBV transmission within households is ongoing in Kinshasa. Factors associated with infection reveal opportunities for HBV prevention efforts, including perinatal prevention, protection during sexual contact, and sanitation of shared personal items.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille E Morgan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Patrick Ngimbi
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Alix J N Boisson-Walsh
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sarah Ntambua
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jolie Matondo
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Martine Tabala
- L‘École de Santé Publique, Université de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Michael Emch
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jessie K Edwards
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kimberly A Powers
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Linda James
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nana Mbonze
- L‘École de Santé Publique, Université de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Samuel Mampunza
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Marcel Yotebieng
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Peyton Thompson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jonathan B Parr
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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7
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Benedicto-Matambo P, Avolio LN, Badji H, Batool R, Khanam F, Munga S, Tapia MD, Peñataro Yori P, Awuor AO, Ceesay BE, Cornick J, Cunliffe NA, Garcia Bardales PF, Heaney CD, Hotwani A, Ireen M, Taufiqul Islam M, Jallow O, Kaminski RW, Shapiama Lopez WV, Maiden V, Ikumapayi UN, Nyirenda R, Ochieng JB, Omore R, Paredes Olortegui M, Pavlinac PB, Pisanic N, Qadri F, Qureshi S, Rahman N, Rogawski McQuade ET, Schiaffino F, Secka O, Sonye C, Sultana S, Timite D, Traore A, Yousafzai MT, Taufiqur Rahman Bhuiyan M, Jahangir Hossain M, Jere KC, Kosek MN, Kotloff KL, Qamar FN, Sow SO, Platts-Mills JA. Exploring Natural Immune Responses to Shigella Exposure Using Multiplex Bead Assays on Dried Blood Spots in High-Burden Countries: Protocol From a Multisite Diarrhea Surveillance Study. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:S58-S64. [PMID: 38532958 PMCID: PMC10962721 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Molecular diagnostics on human fecal samples have identified a larger burden of shigellosis than previously appreciated by culture. Evidence of fold changes in immunoglobulin G (IgG) to conserved and type-specific Shigella antigens could be used to validate the molecular assignment of type-specific Shigella as the etiology of acute diarrhea and support polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based microbiologic end points for vaccine trials. Methods We will test dried blood spots collected at enrollment and 4 weeks later using bead-based immunoassays for IgG to invasion plasmid antigen B and type-specific lipopolysaccharide O-antigen for Shigella flexneri 1b, 2a, 3a, and 6 and Shigella sonnei in Shigella-positive cases and age-, site-, and season-matched test-negative controls from all sites in the Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) Shigella surveillance study. Fold antibody responses will be compared between culture-positive, culture-negative but PCR-attributable, and PCR-positive but not attributable cases and test-negative controls. Age- and site-specific seroprevalence distributions will be identified, and the association between baseline antibodies and Shigella attribution will be estimated. Conclusions The integration of these assays into the EFGH study will help support PCR-based attribution of acute diarrhea to type-specific Shigella, describe the baseline seroprevalence of conserved and type-specific Shigella antibodies, and support correlates of protection for immunity to Shigella diarrhea. These insights can help support the development and evaluation of Shigella vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prisca Benedicto-Matambo
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Health Professions, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Liverpool, UK
| | - Lindsay N Avolio
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Henry Badji
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Rabab Batool
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Farhana Khanam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Stephen Munga
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Milagritos D Tapia
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Pablo Peñataro Yori
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Alex O Awuor
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Bubacarr E Ceesay
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Jennifer Cornick
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Liverpool, UK
| | - Nigel A Cunliffe
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Christopher D Heaney
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aneeta Hotwani
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Mahzabeen Ireen
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Taufiqul Islam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ousman Jallow
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | | | | | - Victor Maiden
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Usman Nurudeen Ikumapayi
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Ruth Nyirenda
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - John Benjamin Ochieng
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Richard Omore
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Patricia B Pavlinac
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nora Pisanic
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Firdausi Qadri
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sonia Qureshi
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Nazia Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Francesca Schiaffino
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Ousman Secka
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Catherine Sonye
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Shazia Sultana
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Drissa Timite
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins du Mali, Bamako, Mali
| | - Awa Traore
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins du Mali, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Md Taufiqur Rahman Bhuiyan
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M Jahangir Hossain
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Khuzwayo C Jere
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Liverpool, UK
- School of Life Sciences & Health Professions, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Margaret N Kosek
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Karen L Kotloff
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Farah Naz Qamar
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Samba O Sow
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins du Mali, Bamako, Mali
| | - James A Platts-Mills
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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8
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Verscheure E, Stierum R, Schlünssen V, Lund Würtz AM, Vanneste D, Kogevinas M, Harding BN, Broberg K, Zienolddiny-Narui S, Erdem JS, Das MK, Makris KC, Konstantinou C, Andrianou X, Dekkers S, Morris L, Pronk A, Godderis L, Ghosh M. Characterization of the internal working-life exposome using minimally and non-invasive sampling methods - a narrative review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117001. [PMID: 37683788 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
During recent years, we are moving away from the 'one exposure, one disease'-approach in occupational settings and towards a more comprehensive approach, taking into account the totality of exposures during a life course by using an exposome approach. Taking an exposome approach however is accompanied by many challenges, one of which, for example, relates to the collection of biological samples. Methods used for sample collection in occupational exposome studies should ideally be minimally invasive, while at the same time sensitive, and enable meaningful repeated sampling in a large population and over a longer time period. This might be hampered in specific situations e.g., people working in remote areas, during pandemics or with flexible work hours. In these situations, using self-sampling techniques might offer a solution. Therefore, our aim was to identify existing self-sampling techniques and to evaluate the applicability of these techniques in an occupational exposome context by conducting a literature review. We here present an overview of current self-sampling methodologies used to characterize the internal exposome. In addition, the use of different biological matrices was evaluated and subdivided based on their level of invasiveness and applicability in an occupational exposome context. In conclusion, this review and the overview of self-sampling techniques presented herein can serve as a guide in the design of future (occupational) exposome studies while circumventing sample collection challenges associated with exposome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Verscheure
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rob Stierum
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette Lund Würtz
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Dorian Vanneste
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manolis Kogevinas
- Environment and Health over the Lifecourse Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara N Harding
- Environment and Health over the Lifecourse Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Karin Broberg
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Mrinal K Das
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Konstantinos C Makris
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Corina Konstantinou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Xanthi Andrianou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Susan Dekkers
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Anjoeka Pronk
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lode Godderis
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Idewe, External Service for Prevention and Protection at work, Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Manosij Ghosh
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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9
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Morgan CE, Ngimbi P, Boisson-Walsh AJ, Ntambua S, Matondo J, Tabala M, Kashamuka MM, Emch M, Edwards JK, Powers KA, James L, Mbonze N, Mampunza S, Yotebieng M, Thompson P, Parr JB. Hepatitis B virus prevalence and transmission in the households of pregnant women in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.27.23298863. [PMID: 38076826 PMCID: PMC10705650 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.27.23298863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Despite routine infant vaccination and blood donor screening, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has high hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence compared to the United States and Europe. Through the cross-sectional Horizontal and Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B (HOVER-HBV) study, we characterized household prevalence in DRC's capital, Kinshasa, to inform additional prevention efforts. Methods We introduced HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) screening alongside existing HIV screening as part of routine antenatal care (ANC) in high-volume maternity clinics in Kinshasa. We recruited households of pregnant women who were HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative, defining households as "exposed" and "unexposed," respectively. Household members underwent HBsAg testing and an epidemiological survey. We evaluated HBsAg prevalence and potential transmission correlates. Results We enrolled 1,006 participants from 200 households (100 exposed, 100 unexposed) across Kinshasa. HBsAg prevalence was more than twice as high in exposed households (5.0%; 95% CI: 2.8%-7.1%) as in unexposed households (1.9%; 0.6%-3.2%). Exposed direct offspring had 3.3 (0.9, 11.8) times the prevalence of unexposed direct offspring. Factors associated with HBsAg-positivity included older age, marriage, and having multiple recent partners or any new sexual partners among index mothers; and older age, lower household wealth, sharing nail clippers, and using street salons among exposed offspring. Conclusions Vertical and horizontal HBV transmission within households is ongoing in Kinshasa. Factors associated with infection reveal opportunities for HBV prevention efforts, including perinatal prevention, protection during sexual contact, and sanitation of shared personal items.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille E Morgan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Patrick Ngimbi
- Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Alix Jn Boisson-Walsh
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sarah Ntambua
- Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jolie Matondo
- Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Martine Tabala
- Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Michael Emch
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jessie K Edwards
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kimberly A Powers
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Linda James
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Nana Mbonze
- Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Samuel Mampunza
- Université Protestante du Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Marcel Yotebieng
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Peyton Thompson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jonathan B Parr
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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10
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Würsch D, Rojas-Montes O, Maldonado-Rodríguez A, Sevilla-Reyes E, Cevallos AM, Sánchez-Burgos G, Chávez-Negrete A, Lira R. Dried Serum Samples for Antibody Detection in Arthropod-Borne Virus Infections Are an Effective Alternative to Serum Samples. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 109:933-936. [PMID: 37640289 PMCID: PMC10551088 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The disease burden of arthropod-borne infections is particularly high in low- and middle-income countries, where the availability of resources for surveillance and testing is limited. The lack of local infrastructure demands that biological samples be sent to central laboratories by refrigerated transport, which increases costs and the risk of sample degradation. Dried blood spot samples are an alternative for ensuring sample integrity during transportation and storage. They can be used for the detection of nucleic acids and proteins, such as antigens or antibodies. Here, we compared anti-chikungunya IgM, anti-dengue IgM, anti-dengue IgG, and anti-Zika IgG detection between paired serum and dried serum samples (DSSs); the agreement between results was found to be 90.6%, 94.1%, 85.9%, and 95.5%, respectively, indicating a strong correlation. Our results suggest that DSSs provide a reliable alternative for detection of specific antibodies in arthropod-borne infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Würsch
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Othon Rojas-Montes
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Angélica Maldonado-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Edgar Sevilla-Reyes
- Laboratorio de Transcriptómica e Inmunología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Ana María Cevallos
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gilma Sánchez-Burgos
- Unidad de Investigación Médica Yucatán, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Adolfo Chávez-Negrete
- Educación e Investigación en Salud, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosalía Lira
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
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11
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Roper KJ, Thomas J, Albalawi W, Maddocks E, Dobson S, Alshehri A, Barone FG, Baltazar M, Semple MG, Ho A, Turtle L, Paxton WA, Pollakis G. Quantifying neutralising antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 in dried blood spots (DBS) and paired sera. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15014. [PMID: 37697014 PMCID: PMC10495436 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41928-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was initially managed by non-pharmaceutical interventions such as diagnostic testing, isolation of positive cases, physical distancing and lockdowns. The advent of vaccines has provided crucial protection against SARS-CoV-2. Neutralising antibody (nAb) responses are a key correlate of protection, and therefore measuring nAb responses is essential for monitoring vaccine efficacy. Fingerstick dried blood spots (DBS) are ideal for use in large-scale sero-surveillance because they are inexpensive, offer the option of self-collection and can be transported and stored at ambient temperatures. Such advantages also make DBS appealing to use in resource-limited settings and in potential future pandemics. In this study, nAb responses in sera, venous blood and fingerstick blood stored on filter paper were measured. Samples were collected from SARS-CoV-2 acutely infected individuals, SARS-CoV-2 convalescent individuals and SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals. Good agreement was observed between the nAb responses measured in eluted DBS and paired sera. Stability of nAb responses was also observed in sera stored on filter paper at room temperature for 28 days. Overall, this study provides support for the use of filter paper as a viable sample collection method to study nAb responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J Roper
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jordan Thomas
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Wejdan Albalawi
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Emily Maddocks
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Susan Dobson
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Abdullateef Alshehri
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Francesco G Barone
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology (ISMIB), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Murielle Baltazar
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Malcolm G Semple
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Respiratory Medicine, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Institute in The Park, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Antonia Ho
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Lance Turtle
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - William A Paxton
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - Georgios Pollakis
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology (CIMI), Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK.
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK.
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12
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Sciortino S, Graham S, Fillman T, Kandasamy H, Cooley R, Hanson C, Eckert V, Tang H, Yang J, Seftel D, Tsai CT, Robinson P. Shadow of a Pandemic: Persistence of Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Newborn Blood Spots. Int J Neonatal Screen 2023; 9:43. [PMID: 37606480 PMCID: PMC10443380 DOI: 10.3390/ijns9030043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate COVID-19 surveillance among pregnant women, the California Genetic Disease Screening Program conducted a screening performance and seroprevalence evaluation of maternal SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detected in banked newborn dried blood spots (DBS). We obtained seropositive results for 2890 newborn DBS from cohorts in 2020 and 2021 using Enable Bioscience's Antibody Detection by Agglutination-PCR (ADAP) assay for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. To infer maternal infection, we linked 312 women with a known laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 episode with their newborn's DBS SARS-CoV02 antibody result. Among 2890 newborns, we detected 453 (15.7%) with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in their DBS. Monthly snapshot statewide seroprevalence among neonates was 12.2% (95% CI 10.3-14.1%, n =1156) in December 2020 and 33.3% (95% CI 29.1-37.4%, n = 26) in March 2021. The longest time recorded from COVID-19 infection to a seropositive neonatal result was 11.7 months among the 312 mothers who had an available SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result. Approximately 94% (153/163) of DBS were seropositive when a known maternal infection occurred earlier than 19 days before birth. The estimated relative sensitivity of DBS to identify prevalent maternal infection was 85.1%, specificity 98.5% and PPV 99.2% (n = 312); the sensitivity was lowest during the December 2021 surge when many infections occurred within 19 days of birth. Fifty pre-pandemic specimens (100% seronegative) and 23 twin-pair results (100% concordant) support an intrinsic specificity and PPV of ADAP approaching 100%. Maternal infection surveillance is limited by a time lag prior to delivery, especially during pandemic surges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Sciortino
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (H.K.)
| | - Steve Graham
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (H.K.)
| | - Toki Fillman
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (H.K.)
| | - Hari Kandasamy
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (H.K.)
| | - Robin Cooley
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (H.K.)
| | - Carl Hanson
- Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | - Valorie Eckert
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (H.K.)
| | - Hao Tang
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (H.K.)
| | - Juan Yang
- Genetic Disease Screening Program, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (H.K.)
| | - David Seftel
- Enable Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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13
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Schuurmans Stekhoven SJ, Winkel KGT, Souverein D, Sondermeijer BM, van Houten MA, Euser SM, van Lelyveld SFL. Clinical validation of novel dried blood spot based collecting device using serum separation for measuring SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28765. [PMID: 37212273 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Accurate surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence includes large-scale antibody testing of the population. Current testing methods require collection of venous blood samples by a healthcare worker, or dried blood spot (DBS) collection using finger prick, however this might have some logistic and processing limitations. We investigated the performance of the Ser-Col device for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies using a finger prick: DBS-like collection system that includes a lateral flow paper for serum separation and allows for automated large scale analysis. For this prospective study, adult patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 were included 6 weeks post-symptom onset. Healthy, adult volunteers were included as a negative control group. Venous blood and capillary blood using the Ser-Col device were collected and the Wantai SARS-CoV-2 total antibody ELISA was performed on all samples. We included 50 subjects in the study population and 49 in the control group. Results obtained with venous blood versus Ser-Col capillary blood showed 100% sensitivity (95% CI: 0.93-1.00) and 100% specificity (95% CI: 0.93-1.00). Our study shows the feasibility of SARS-CoV-2 total antibody screening using a standardized DBS technique with semiautomated processing for large scale analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dennis Souverein
- Regional Public Health Laboratory Kennemerland, Haarlem, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Sjoerd M Euser
- Regional Public Health Laboratory Kennemerland, Haarlem, The Netherlands
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14
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Timilsina SS, Durr N, Jolly P, Ingber DE. Rapid quantitation of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in clinical samples with an electrochemical sensor. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 223:115037. [PMID: 36584477 PMCID: PMC9788850 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.115037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by several variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 virus (SARS-CoV-2). With the roll-out of vaccines and development of new therapeutics that may be targeted to distinct viral molecules, there is a need to screen populations for viral antigen-specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Here, we report a rapid, multiplexed, electrochemical (EC) device with on-chip control that enables detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in less than 10 min using 1.5 μL of a patient sample. The EC biosensor demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1, when evaluated using 93 clinical samples, including plasma and dried blood spot samples from 54 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 39 negative patients. This EC biosensor platform enables simple, cost-effective, sensitive, and rapid detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in complex clinical samples, which is convenient for evaluating humoral-responses to vaccination or infection in population-wide testing, including applications in point-of-care settings. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using dried blood spot samples that can be collected locally and transported to distant clinical laboratories at ambient temperature for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies which may be utilized for serological surveillance and demonstrate the utility of remote sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay S Timilsina
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 02115, USA
| | - Nolan Durr
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 02115, USA
| | - Pawan Jolly
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 02115, USA
| | - Donald E Ingber
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 02115, USA; Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, And Harvard Medical School, 02115, USA; Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 02115, USA.
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15
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Auma E, Hall T, Chopra S, Bilton S, Ramkhelawon L, Amini F, Calvert A, Amirthalingam G, Jones CE, Andrews N, Heath PT, Le Doare K. Using Dried Blood Spots for a Sero-Surveillance Study of Maternally Derived Antibody against Group B Streptococcus. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020357. [PMID: 36851236 PMCID: PMC9966576 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination during pregnancy could protect women and their infants from invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease. To understand if neonatal dried blood spots (DBS) can be used to determine the amount of maternally derived antibody that protects infants against invasive GBS disease, a retrospective case-control study was conducted in England between 1 April 2014 and 30 April 2015. The DBS of cases with invasive GBS disease (n = 61) were matched with healthy controls (n = 125). The haematocrit, DBS storage temperature, freeze-thaw cycle, and paired serum/DBS studies were set up to optimise the antibody assessment. The samples were analysed using a multiplex immunoassay, and the results were assessed using parametric and nonparametric tests. Antibody concentrations were stable at haematocrits of up to 50% but declined at 75%. DBS storage at room temperature was stable for three months compared with storage from collection at -20 °C and rapidly degraded thereafter. Total IgG levels measured in DBS and paired serum showed a good correlation (r2 = 0.99). However, due to suboptimal storage conditions, no difference was found in the GBS IgG levels between DBS samples from cases and controls. We have demonstrated a proof of concept that assays utilising DBS for assessing GBS serotype-specific antibodies in infants is viable. This method could be used to facilitate future large sero-correlate studies, but DBS samples must be stored at -20 °C for long term preservation of antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Auma
- Department of Biology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, ENS de Lyon, CNRS, UMR, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Tom Hall
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Simran Chopra
- Immunity and Infection, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BX, UK
| | - Sam Bilton
- Neonatal Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Laxmee Ramkhelawon
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Fahimah Amini
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Anna Calvert
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Gayatri Amirthalingam
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Christine E. Jones
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
- Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Nick Andrews
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Paul T. Heath
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
- Makerere University—Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala P.O. Box 23491, Uganda
- Pathogen Immunology Group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
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Rodríguez-Mateos M, Jaso J, Martínez de Aguirre P, Carlos S, Fernández-Ciriza L, Holguín Á, Reina G. Effect of the Hematocrit and Storage Temperature of Dried Blood Samples in the Serological Study of Mumps, Measles and Rubella. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13030349. [PMID: 36766454 PMCID: PMC9913955 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13030349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Dried blood spots (DBSs) are an economical and convenient alternative to serum/plasma, which allow for the serological and molecular study of different pathogens. Sixty-four blood samples were collected by venipuncture and spotted onto Whatman™ 903 cards to evaluate the utility of DBSs and the effect of the storage temperature for 120 days after sample collection to carry out serological diagnosis. Mumps, measles and rubella IgG were investigated from DBSs and plasma using an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay. Using a calculated optimal cut-off value, the serological evaluation of mumps, measles and rubella using DBSs achieved high sensitivity (100%, 100% and 82.5%, respectively) and specificity (100%, 87.5% and 100%, respectively). The correlation observed between the plasma and the DBSs processed after sample collection was high (0.914-0.953) for all antibodies studied, both considering hematocrit before sample elution or not. For the different storage conditions, the correlation with plasma was high at 4 °C (0.889-0.925) and at -20 °C (0.878-0.951) but lower at room temperature (0.762-0.872). Measles IgG results were more affected than other markers when DBSs were stored at any temperature for 120 days. To summarize, hematocrit does not affect the processing of DBSs in the study of serological markers of mumps, measles and rubella. DBS stability for serological diagnosis of mumps and rubella is adequate when samples are stored at -20 °C or 4 °C, but not at room temperature, for a period of 4 months.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Javier Jaso
- Microbiology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Paula Martínez de Aguirre
- Microbiology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- ISTUN, Institute of Tropical Health, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Silvia Carlos
- ISTUN, Institute of Tropical Health, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-948-425-600 (ext. 826636)
| | | | - África Holguín
- HIV-1 Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Microbiology and Parasitology Department, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal-IRYCIS and CIBEREsp-RITIP, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Reina
- Microbiology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- ISTUN, Institute of Tropical Health, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Øverbø J, Aziz A, Zaman K, Julin CH, Qadri F, Stene-Johansen K, Biswas R, Islam S, Bhuiyan TR, Haque W, Sandbu S, Dembinski JL, Dudman S. Stability and Feasibility of Dried Blood Spots for Hepatitis E Virus Serology in a Rural Setting. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112525. [PMID: 36423134 PMCID: PMC9692628 DOI: 10.3390/v14112525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. In many low-income countries it causes large outbreaks and disproportionally affects pregnant women and their offspring. Surveillance studies to find effective preventive interventions are needed but are hampered by the lack of funding and infrastructure. Dried blood spots (DBS) offer an easier and more robust way to collect, transport, and store blood samples compared to plasma/serum samples, and could ease some of the barriers for such studies. In this study we optimize an HEV IgG ELISA for DBS samples and validate it on 300 paired DBS and plasma samples collected in rural areas of Bangladesh from participants in a HEV vaccine study. We demonstrate that HEV IgG in blood stored as DBS is stable for two months at up to 40 °C, and for five freeze-thaw cycles. The specificity was 97% and the overall sensitivity of the DBS assay was 81%. The sensitivity was higher in samples from vaccinated participants (100%) compared to previously infected participants (59%), reflecting a positive correlation between IgG titer and sensitivity. We found a strong correlation between DBS and plasma samples with an r2 of 0.90, but with a higher degree of difference between individual paired samples. Our study shows that DBS offers a stable alternative to plasma/serum for HEV IgG measurements and can facilitate serological studies, particularly in resource limited areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakim Øverbø
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, NO-0213 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, NO-0424 Oslo, Norway
- Correspondence: (J.Ø.); (S.D.)
| | - Asma Aziz
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, NO-0424 Oslo, Norway
- International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - K. Zaman
- International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | | | - Firdausi Qadri
- International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | | | - Rajib Biswas
- International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Shaumik Islam
- International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | | | - Warda Haque
- International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Synne Sandbu
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, NO-0213 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Susanne Dudman
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, NO-0424 Oslo, Norway
- Oslo University Hospital, NO-0424 Oslo, Norway
- Correspondence: (J.Ø.); (S.D.)
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Building an integrated serosurveillance platform to inform public health interventions: Insights from an experts' meeting on serum biomarkers. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010657. [PMID: 36201428 PMCID: PMC9536637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of biomarkers to measure immune responses in serum is crucial for understanding population-level exposure and susceptibility to human pathogens. Advances in sample collection, multiplex testing, and computational modeling are transforming serosurveillance into a powerful tool for public health program design and response to infectious threats. In July 2018, 70 scientists from 16 countries met to perform a landscape analysis of approaches that support an integrated serosurveillance platform, including the consideration of issues for successful implementation. Here, we summarize the group's insights and proposed roadmap for implementation, including objectives, technical requirements, ethical issues, logistical considerations, and monitoring and evaluation.
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Barrett JS. Editorial: Insights in obstetric and pediatric pharmacology: 2021. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:995923. [PMID: 36188555 PMCID: PMC9515976 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.995923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Cholette F, Fabia R, Harris A, Ellis H, Cachero K, Schroeder L, Mesa C, Lacap P, Arnold C, Galipeau Y, Langlois MA, Colwill K, Gingras AC, McGeer A, Giles E, Day J, Osiowy C, Durocher Y, Hankins C, Mazer B, Drebot M, Kim J. Comparative performance data for multiplex SARS-CoV-2 serological assays from a large panel of dried blood spot specimens. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10270. [PMID: 36060461 PMCID: PMC9420314 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The extent of the COVID-19 pandemic will be better understood through serosurveys and SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. Dried blood spot (DBS) samples will play a central role in large scale serosurveillance by simplifying biological specimen collection and transportation, especially in Canada. Direct comparative performance data on multiplex SARS-CoV-2 assays resulting from identical DBS samples are currently lacking. In our study, we aimed to provide performance data for the BioPlex 2200 SARS-CoV-2 IgG (Bio-Rad), V-PLEX SARS-CoV-2 Panel 2 IgG (MSD), and Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (Roche) commercial assays, as well as for two highly scalable in-house assays (University of Ottawa and Mount Sinai Hospital protocols) to assess their suitability for DBS-based SARS-CoV-2 DBS serosurveillance. These assays were evaluated against identical panels of DBS samples collected from convalescent COVID-19 patients (n = 97) and individuals undergoing routine sexually transmitted and bloodborne infection (STBBI) testing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 90). Our findings suggest that several assays are suitable for serosurveillance (sensitivity >97% and specificity >98%). In contrast to other reports, we did not observe an improvement in performance using multiple antigen consensus-based rules to establish overall seropositivity. This may be due to our DBS panel which consisted of samples collected from convalescent COVID-19 patients with significant anti-spike, -receptor binding domain (RBD), and -nucleocapsid antibody titers. This study demonstrates that biological specimens collected as DBS coupled with one of several readily available assays are useful for large-scale COVID-19 serosurveillance.
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21
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Catlett B, Starr M, Machalek DA, Danwilai T, Palmer M, Kelly A, Kaldor J, Dore GJ, Darley D, Matthews G, Cunningham PH. Evaluation of serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing from dried blood spots collected from cohorts with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY PLUS 2022; 2:100093. [PMID: 35765384 PMCID: PMC9225964 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2022.100093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dried blood spot (DBS) specimens are a useful serosurveillance tool particularly in hard-to-reach populations but their application for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection is poorly characterised. Objectives To compare detection of naturally acquired SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in paired DBS and serum specimens using commercially available serological immunoassays. Study Design Specimens were collected through St Vincent's Hospital observational post COVID-19 cohort study (ADAPT). Laboratory spotted DBS from venepuncture were initially tested on seven assays, a DBS validation completed on three with clinically collected fingerstick DBSs tested on one. Results Sensitivity for Euroimmun nucleocapsid (NCP) IgG ELISA from laboratory spotted DBS (n=145), Euroimmun spike, IgG ELISA from laboratory spotted DBS (n=161), and Binding Site total antibody ELISA from clinically collected fingerstick DBS (n=391) was 100% (95% CI: 95.8-100%), 100% (95% CI: 95.8-100%) and 92.9% (95% CI: 89.5-95.5%), respectively. Specificity was 66.2% (95% CI: 53.6-77.0%), 96% (95% CI: 88.7-99.1%) and 98.8% (95% CI: 93.3-99.9%), respectively. All three assays’ results displayed a strong positive correlation between DBS compared to paired serum. Conclusions The Binding Site™ spike total antibody and Euroimmun™ spike IgG ELISAs provided good analytical performance, demonstrating that DBS specimens could facilitate specimen collection in the epidemiological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is highly applicable in populations and settings where venepuncture is problematic (including community based regional/remote settings, nursing homes, prisons, and schools).
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22
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Performance of Dried Blood Spot Samples in SARS-CoV-2 Serolomics. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071311. [PMID: 35889030 PMCID: PMC9322257 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous sero-epidemiological studies have been initiated to investigate the spread and dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To address the concomitant need for serological high-throughput assays, a bead-based multiplex serology assay, specific for SARS-CoV-2, had been developed. SARS-CoV-2 serolomics allows for measuring antibody responses to almost the entire SARS-CoV-2 proteome in up to 2000 serum samples per day. To enlarge the pool of eligible sample collection methods, we here test the compatibility of serolomics with dried blood spot (DBS)-derived eluates. Antibody levels of nine SARS-CoV-2 antigens, including the nucleocapsid (N) and receptor-binding domain of the spike protein (S1-RBD), were measured in 142 paired DBS and serum samples. The numeric correlation between the two sample types was high, with a Pearson’s r of 0.88 for both S1-RBD and N and intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. Systematically reduced antibody levels in DBS eluates were compensated by lowering the cutoffs for seropositivity accordingly. This enabled the concordant classification of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, without loss in sensitivity. Antibody levels against accessory SARS-CoV-2 antigens also showed a high concordance, demonstrating that DBS-derived eluates are eligible for SARS-CoV-2 serolomics. DBS cards facilitate the collection of blood samples, as they obviate the need for medically trained personnel and can be shipped at room temperature. In combination with SARS-CoV-2 serolomics, DBS cards enable powerful sero-epidemiological studies, thus allowing for the monitoring of patients and epidemiological analyses in resource-poor settings.
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Immune surveillance for six vaccinable pathogens using paired plasma and dried blood spots in HIV infected and uninfected children in Kinshasa. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7920. [PMID: 35562589 PMCID: PMC9106688 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12052-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Child vaccination reduces infant mortality rates. HIV-infected children present higher risk of diseases than non-infected. We report the protection coverage rates for 6 vaccine-preventable diseases in a paediatric population from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the impact of HIV infection, providing the first data on the validity of dried blood samples (DBS) to monitor the immune protection. During 2016–2018 DBS from 143 children/adolescents were collected in Kinshasa (DRC), being 52 HIV-infected. Forty-two had a paired plasma sample. Protective IgG was quantified (VirClia-IgG,VIRCELL) to obtain the optimal cut-off in IgG detection in DBS. ROC curves were generated with R software and statistical analyses with Stata. Protective IgG levels varied across pathogens, not reaching herd immunity. HIV-infected presented lower vaccine protection than uninfected for all analyzed pathogens, except rubella, with statistically significant differences for measles (30.8% vs. 53.8%; p = 0.008) and tetanus (3.8% vs. 22%; p = 0.0034). New cut-offs were calculated when using DBS to improve test performance. We reinforce the necessity to increase pediatric vaccination coverage in Kinshasa, especially in HIV seropositive, with less capacity to maintain adequate antibody levels. DBS were useful to monitor vaccination coverage in seroprevalence studies in resource-limited settings, after optimizing the cut-off value for each pathogen.
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Shaver ZM, Anderson M, Bhebhe L, Baruti K, Chogaa WT, Ngidi J, Mbangiwa T, Taua M, Setlhare DR, Melamu P, Phinius BB, Musonda R, Mine M, Moyo S, Gaseitsiwe S. Decreased hepatitis B virus vaccine response among HIV-positive infants compared with HIV-negative infants in Botswana. AIDS 2022; 36:755-762. [PMID: 35113045 PMCID: PMC7614825 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We sought to determine vaccine antibody titres and the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative infants born to HIV-positive mothers in Botswana. DESIGN This was a retrospective cross-sectional study using 449 archived dried blood spot samples from both HIV-positive and HIV-negative infants collected between 2016 and 2018. METHODS We screened dried blood spot samples for HBsAg and determined hepatitis B surface antibody titres. We determined hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes by amplifying 415 base-pairs of the surface region. RESULTS HIV-positive infants mounted a significantly lower immune response to the HBV vaccine (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a lower proportion of HIV-positive infants had protective hepatitis B surface antibody titres (74.5%) than HIV-negative infants (89.2%) (P < 0.001). HIV-positive infants were older and 50.9% of them had completed vaccination (P = 0.018). Of the 449 infant samples tested, three (0.67%) were positive for HBsAg. Of the three HBsAg-positive infants, two had protective titres (>10 mIU/ml). Two of the three HBV-positive infants were infected with genotype D3 and had no drug-resistance or escape mutations. CONCLUSION Vaccine response was lower among HIV-positive infants compared with HIV-negative infants. HBV infections were observed in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative infants in Botswana. Studies to investigate additional preventive strategies to reduce HBV mother-to-child transmission are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kabo Baruti
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
- University of Botswana, Department of Biological Sciences, Gabarone, Botswana
| | - Wonderful T. Chogaa
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Julia Ngidi
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
- National Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | - Modiri Taua
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
- National Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Ditiro R. Setlhare
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
- National Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Pinkie Melamu
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
| | | | | | - Madisa Mine
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
- National Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Sikhulile Moyo
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Simani Gaseitsiwe
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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25
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Miesse PK, Collier BB, Grant RP. Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using dried blood spot for at-home collection. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5812. [PMID: 35388074 PMCID: PMC8985748 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09699-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The utilization of vaccines to fight the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a growing need for expansive serological testing. To address this, an EUA approved immunoassay for detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in venous serum samples was investigated for use with dried blood spot (DBS) samples. Results from self-collected DBS samples demonstrated a 98.1% categorical agreement to venous serum with a correlation (R) of 0.9600 while professionally collected DBS samples demonstrated a categorical agreement of 100.0% with a correlation of 0.9888 to venous serum. Additional studies were performed to stress different aspects of at-home DBS collection, including shipping stability, effects of interferences, and other sample-specific robustness studies. These studies demonstrated a categorical agreement of at least 95.0% and a mean bias less than ± 20.0%. Furthermore, the ability to track antibody levels following vaccination with the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine was demonstrated with serial self-collected DBS samples from pre-dose (Day 0) out to 19 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyton K Miesse
- Center for Esoteric Testing, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Burlington, NC, USA
| | - Bradley B Collier
- Center for Esoteric Testing, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Burlington, NC, USA.
| | - Russell P Grant
- Center for Esoteric Testing, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Burlington, NC, USA
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Qualitative and quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from dried blood spots. Clin Biochem 2022; 117:16-22. [PMID: 34990593 PMCID: PMC8721924 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling is a minimally invasive method for specimen collection with potential multifaceted uses, particularly for serosurveillance of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we assessed DBS as a potential specimen type for assessing IgG and total (including IgG and IgM) antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated and naturally infected patients. Methods Six candidate buffers were assessed for eluting blood from DBS cards. The study utilized one hundred and five paired plasma specimens and DBS specimens from prospectively collected SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals, remnants from those with PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, or remnants from those without history of infection or vaccination. All specimens were tested with the Siemens SARS-CoV-2 total assay (COV2T) or IgG assay (sCOVG). Results The lowest backgrounds were observed with water and PBS, and water was used for elution. Relative to plasma samples, DBS samples had a positive percent agreement (PPA) of 94.4% (95% CI: 94.9–100%) for COV2T and 79.2 (68.4–87.0) for sCOVG using the manufacturer’s cutoff. The NPA was 100 % (87.1–100.0 and 85.13–100) for both assays. Dilution studies revealed 100% (95% CI: 90.8–100%) qualitative agreement between specimen types on the COV2T assay and 98.0% (88.0–99.9%) with the sCOVG using study defined cutoffs. Conclusion DBS specimens demonstrated high PPA and NPA relative to plasma for SARS-CoV-2 serological testing. Our data support feasibility of DBS sampling for SARS-CoV-2 serological testing.
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Serological Detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Using Commercially Available Enzyme Immunoassays on Dried Blood Spots Collected from Patients. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0124521. [PMID: 34908472 PMCID: PMC8672893 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01245-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
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Blanch-Lázaro B, Ribot RF, Berg ML, Alexandersen S, Bennett AT. Ability to detect antibodies to beak and feather disease virus in blood on filter paper decreases with duration of storage. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12642. [PMID: 35036139 PMCID: PMC8697771 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a circovirus that infects captive and wild psittacine birds, and is of conservation concern. The haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay is used to determine antibody titres against BFDV, and the use of dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper stored at room temperature has been suggested to be an equally valid technique to the use of frozen serum. However, research on other pathogens has found variable results when investigating the longevity of antibodies stored on DBS at room temperature. Consequently, we aimed to test the temporal stability of antibodies to BFDV in DBS samples stored long-term at room temperature. A further goal was to add to the current knowledge of antibody response to naturally acquired BFDV infection in crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans). Methods Blood was collected from wild P. elegans in Victoria, Australia, that had been live-trapped (n = 9) or necropsied (n = 11). BFDV virus load data were obtained from blood stored in ethanol by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR); antibody titres were obtained by HI assay from either DBS or serum samples, which had been collected concurrently. All HI assays were performed commercially by the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) in Charles Sturt University, Australia, who were blind to BFDV blood status. Results HI titres from DBS stored at room temperature declined significantly over time (~80 weeks). By contrast, frozen serum samples assayed after 80 weeks in storage all had high HI titres, only varying up to one dilution step from the initial HI titres obtained from DBS at 3–6 weeks after sampling. Weak HI titres from DBS samples all came back negative when the test was repeated only nine weeks later. Novel high HI titres were reported in P. elegans, and while most birds with high antibody titres had corresponding negative qPCR results, a single subadult presented with high HI titres and virus load simultaneously. Conclusion Detection of antibodies on filter paper stored at room temperature decreases over time, increasing the chances of false negatives in these samples, and in repeated testing of samples with weak HI titres. Consequently, serum should be the preferred sample type to use for seroepidemiological studies on BFDV in parrots and other bird species. When not possible, it may help to store DBS on filter paper at −20 °C or lower. However, prompt testing of DBS samples (e.g., <6 weeks in storage) is recommended pending further research on antibody temporal stability. We also show that P. elegans, especially adults, can produce high antibody titres against BFDV, which may help them resist infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Blanch-Lázaro
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Raoul F.H. Ribot
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mathew L. Berg
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Soren Alexandersen
- Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew T.D. Bennett
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Baker D, Asardag AN, Quinn OA, Efimov A, Kang AS. Anti-drug antibodies to antibody-based therapeutics in multiple sclerosis. Hum Antibodies 2021; 29:255-262. [PMID: 34397407 DOI: 10.3233/hab-210453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is the major demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Relapsing MS can be treated by a number of approved monoclonal antibodies that currently target: CD20, CD25 (withdrawn), CD49d and CD52. These all target potentially pathogenic memory B cell subsets and perhaps functionally inhibit pathogenic T cell function. These consist of chimeric, humanized and fully human antibodies. However, despite humanization it is evident that all of these monoclonal antibodies can induce binding and neutralizing antibodies ranging from < 1% to over 80% within a year of treatment. Importantly, it is evident that monitoring these allow prediction of future treatment-failure in some individuals and treatment cessation and switching therefore potentially limiting disease breakthrough and disability accumulation. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to avoid hospitals, shortened infusion times and extended dose intervals have been implemented, importantly, subcutaneous delivery of alternative treatments or formulations have been developed to allow for home treatment. Therefore, hospital-based and remote monitoring of ADA could therefore be advantageous to optimize patient responses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Baker
- Blizard Institute, Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - A Nazli Asardag
- Blizard Institute, Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Olivia A Quinn
- Blizard Institute, Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Alex Efimov
- Camstech Limited, Daresbury Laboratory Science and Technology Facilities Council Sci-Tech, Keckwick, Cheshire, UK
| | - Angray S Kang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Centre for Oral Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Dental Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Feasibility of a dried blood spot strategy for serological screening and surveillance to monitor elimination of Human African Trypanosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009407. [PMID: 34115754 PMCID: PMC8195376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the number of reported Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) cases caused by Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense has been markedly declining, and the goal of ‘elimination as a public health problem’ is within reach. For the next stage, i.e. interruption of HAT transmission by 2030, intensive screening and surveillance will need to be maintained, but with tools and strategies more efficiently tailored to the very low prevalence. We assessed the sequential use of ELISA and Immune Trypanolysis (ITL) on dried blood spot (DBS) samples as an alternative to the traditional HAT field testing and confirmation approach. A cross-sectional study was conducted in HAT endemic and previously endemic zones in Kongo Central province, and a non-endemic zone in Haut Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Door-to-door visits were performed to collect dried blood spot (DBS) samples on filter paper. ELISA/T.b. gambiense was conducted followed by ITL for those testing positive by ELISA and in a subset of ELISA negatives. In total, 11,642 participants were enrolled. Of these, 11,535 DBS were collected and stored in appropriate condition for ELISA testing. Ninety-seven DBS samples tested positive on ELISA. In the endemic zone, ELISA positivity was 1.34% (95%CI: 1.04–1.64). In the previously endemic zone and non-endemic zone, ELISA positivity was 0.34% (95% CI: 0.13–0.55) and 0.37% (95% CI: 0.15–0.60) respectively. Among the ELISA positives, only two samples had a positive ITL result, both from the endemic zone. One of those was from a former HAT patient treated in 2008 and the other from an individual who unfortunately had deceased prior to the follow-up visit. Our study showed that a surveillance strategy, based on DBS samples and centralized testing with retracing of patients if needed, is feasible in DRC. ELISA seems well suited as initial test with a similar positivity rate as traditional screening tests, but ITL remains complex. Alternatives for the latter, also analyzable on DBS, should be further explored. Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease, transmitted by tsetse flies, that is usually fatal if untreated. The number of cases have been rapidly declining over the past years indicating that elimination of the disease as a public health problem is within reach. To achieve the next stage, i.e. interruption of HAT transmission by 2030, intensive screening and surveillance will need to be maintained, but with tools and strategies more efficiently tailored to the very low prevalence. In contrast to the traditional approach of sending laboratory expertise to the field, we assessed an alternative approach based on the collection of dried blood samples on filter paper that were tested in a regional laboratory. Samples were taken in endemic, previously endemic and non-endemic villages and tested by ELISA and Immune Trypanolysis. The ELISA positivity rates were similar to those of other screening techniques currently used and Immune Trypanolysis was highly specific. Hence for surveillance in HAT endemic areas, collecting dried blood samples followed by centralized testing could become an alternative to the current strategy of active screening by mobile teams with on the spot confirmation. It has also potential for post-elimination surveillance to monitor resurgence and for exploratory surveillance in historic foci. Though highly specific, Immune Trypanolysis remains too complex for use in intermediate level laboratories, to further expand this strategy an alternative second step test is required.
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