Work

Kato-Katz versus urine POC-CCA for the diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni in preschool-aged children in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The diagnosis of schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children (PSAC) is challenging. The point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) assay offers potential improvements in diagnostic access in hard-to-reach areas over the conventional Kato-Katz (KK) test. This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of KK versus POC-CCA in stool and urine samples from PSAC in a PSAC population residing in a S. mansoni endemic hard-to-reach area in Kenya. Using combined positive results of both KK and POC-CCA tests as the “gold standard,” the overall sensitivity of KK (57.6%; 95% CI, 49.1–65.8) was significantly lower than that of POC-CCA (73.2%; 95% CI, 65.0–80.4); $${\chi }_{m}^{2}$$ χ m 2 = 5.88, p = 0.015. There was moderate agreement between KK and the combined results ( k = 0.599, p < 0.001, concordance 80.9%) and a substantial agreement between POC-CCA and the combined results ( k = 0.753, p < 0.001, concordance 88.1%). POC-CCA is a more sensitive diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis surveillance in PSAC compared to KK, particularly in hard-to-reach endemic areas.

Source: Parasitology Research

DOI: 10.1007/s00436-025-08467-3

Authors: Phyllis Munyiva Isaiah, Bryan Nyawanda, Collins Okoyo, Peter Steinmann

Institutions: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Kenya Medical Research Institute

Language: English

Topic: Parasites and Host Interactions

Subfield: Parasitology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,590