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Use of the aqueous biphasic system as an alternative for concentration of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, with non‐toxic separation of faecal residues and fats
Author(s) -
Rosa Stefany Laryssa,
Santos Bianca Martins,
Soares Felipe Augusto,
Loiola Saulo Hudson Nery,
Inácio Sandra Valéria,
Suzuki Celso Tetsuo Nagase,
Sabadini Edvaldo,
Falcão Alexandre Xavier,
Bresciani Kátia Denise Saraiva,
Gomes Jancarlo Ferreira
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.13308
Subject(s) - ascaris lumbricoides , peg ratio , feces , toxicology , ascaris , chemistry , ethylene glycol , effluent , helminths , biology , food science , chromatography , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental engineering , immunology , environmental science , organic chemistry , finance , economics
Objectives Human enteroparasites are considered a serious public health problem in underdeveloped countries located in world regions with tropical, subtropical and equatorial climates. These parasites are commonly diagnosed by the Parasitological Examination of Faeces ( PEF ), performed by conventional techniques and/or commercial kits that result in tests with low‐to‐moderate sensitivity, due to the use of destructive chemical solvents to parasite structures, and to present excess adipose substance and digestive residues in their microscopic slides. In order to improve the efficacy of these tests/examinations, this study aimed to investigate a new alternative for the PEF , with the use of Aqueous Biphasic System ( ABS ). Methods For this, four ABS s containing poly (ethylene glycol), PEG ( PEG ‐4000 and PEG ‐6000), dipotassium phosphate and sodium citrate at different concentrations in the biphasic systems were evaluated with faecal samples containing eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides . Results The ABS consisting of PEG ‐4000 and dipotassium phosphate, at concentrations of 55% w/w and 20% w/w, respectively, achieved 100% satisfactory results compared to the conventional TF ‐Test technique in terms of preservation and concentration of A. lumbricoides eggs, with adequate separation of digestive residues, without using a centrifuge or chemical solvents that may cause harm to the parasites. Conclusions This study presents ABS as a new low‐cost technical principle for the detection of parasite eggs in PEF . The new technique is simple, fast, non‐toxic, not harmful to the parasite and does not require a centrifuge.