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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Bioluminescence Imaging to Detect Late Stage Infection of African Trypanosomiasis
Published on: May 18, 2016
Plasma neuronal specific enolase: a potential stage diagnostic marker in human African trypanosomiasis
Jeremy M Sternberg1, Julia A Mitchell2
1Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University Of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK j.sternberg@abdn.ac.uk.
Background:
This study was carried out to determine the potential of neuronal specific enolase (NSE) as a stage diagnostic marker in human African trypanosomiasis.
Methods:
Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were obtained from a cohort of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense-infected patients and non-infected controls. Neuronal specific enolase concentrations were measured by ELISA and analysed in relation to diagnosis and disease-stage data.
Results:
Plasma NSE concentration was significantly increased in late-stage patients (median 21 ng/ml), compared to the control (median 11 ng/ml), but not in early-stage patients (median 5.3 ng/ml). Cerebrospinal fluid NSE concentration did not vary between stages.
Conclusion:
Plasma NSE is a potential stage diagnostic in this cohort and merits further investigation.
