Filter paper performance in PCR for cutaneous leishmaniasis diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Medical Diagnostics
• Parasitology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) diagnosis relies on sensitive detection methods.
• Traditional diagnostic techniques may face challenges in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of filter paper (FP) as a collection medium for lesion scrapings in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnosis of CL.
• To determine the diagnostic performance of FP in comparison to established methods.

Main Methods:

• Lesion scrapings were obtained from 48 patients diagnosed with CL.
• Samples collected on FP were analyzed using PCR.
• PCR results from FP samples were compared against microscopy and PCR using STE buffer preserved samples.

Main Results:

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using filter paper (FP) successfully detected Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes.
• PCR with FP demonstrated 100% sensitivity when compared to direct microscopy and PCR of samples collected in STE buffer.

Conclusions:

• Filter paper (FP) is a viable and highly sensitive tool for collecting samples for PCR-based diagnosis of CL.
• FP facilitates accurate CL diagnosis, particularly in remote or underserved regions, due to its high sensitivity and ease of use.