The separation of trypanosomes from blood by anion exchange chromatography: From Sheila Lanham's discovery 50 years ago to a gold standard for sleeping sickness diagnosis

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Veerle LejonPhilippe Vincendeau

Abstract

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease that is fatal if untreated, caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. brucei rhodesiense. In its 2012 roadmap, WHO targeted HAT for elimination as a public health problem in 2020 and for zero transmission in 2030. Diagnosis of HAT is a multistep procedure comprising of clinical suspicion, confirmation, and stage determination. Suspects are identified on clinical signs and/or on screening for specific antibodies. Parasitological confirmation of suspects remains mandatory to avoid unnecessary toxic drug administration. The positive predictive value of the antibody detection tests is low. Simple parasite detection techniques, microscopic examination of lymph node aspirate, or stained thick blood films lack sensitivity, whereas in T. brucei gambiense patients, the number of blood trypanosomes may be very low. Parasite concentration techniques are therefore indispensable. Half a century ago, Sheila Lanham discovered a technique to separate trypanosomes from the blood of infected rodents, based on anion exchange chromatography with diethyl amino ethyl (DEAE) cellulose, a weak anion exchanger. Between pH 6-9, trypanosome surface is less nega...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1977·Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·W H LumsdenM Strange
Dec 1, 1970·Experimental Parasitology·S M Lanham, D G Godfrey
Sep 7, 2000·Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·T W MiézanP Büscher
Mar 24, 2006·Tropical Medicine & International Health : TM & IH·P LutumbaM Boelaert
May 26, 2010·Tropical Medicine & International Health : TM & IH·Mamadou CamaraBruno Bucheton
Jun 13, 2014·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Dieudonné Mumba NgoyiVeerle Lejon
Jul 5, 2017·Lancet·Philippe BüscherGerardo Priotto
Sep 14, 2018·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Epco HaskerErick Mwamba Miaka

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Citations

Apr 12, 2020·Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease·Christian Burri
Jul 6, 2021·Frontiers in Veterinary Science·Keneth Iceland KasoziSusan Christina Welburn

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mAECT

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