Accuracy of diagnostic tests for respiratory syncytial virus infection within a paediatric hospital population in Kilifi County, Kenya

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced lower respiratory tract disease is a prominent cause of hospitalisation among children aged 91%) and closely mimicked the pattern given by the Se and Sp values respectively. None of the examined covariates (age, sex and pneumonia status) significantly influenced the accuracy of the tests. The evaluation found little to choose between the three diagnostic tests. Nonetheless, with its relative affordability, the conventional IFAT continues to hold promise for use in patient care and surveillance activities for RSV infection within settings where children are hospitalised with severe acute respiratory illness. [Abstract copyright: Copyright: © 2020 Mweu MM et al.

Bayesian Estimation of Diagnostic Accuracy of Three Diagnostic Tests for Bovine Tuberculosis in Egyptian Dairy Cattle Using Latent Class Models

The aim of the present study was to calculate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the single cervical tuberculin test (SCT), rapid lateral flow test (RLFT), and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in Egyptian dairy cattle herds within a Bayesian framework. The true M. bovis infection within-herd prevalence was assessed as a secondary objective. Data on the test results of SCT, RLFT, and RT-PCR for the detection of M. bovis were available from 245 cows in eleven herds in six major governorates in Egypt. A Bayesian latent class model was built for the estimation of the characteristics of the three tests. Our findings showed that Se of SCT (0.93 (95% Posterior credible interval (PCI): 0.89–0.93)) was higher than that of RT-PCR (0.83 (95% PCI: 0.28–0.93)) but was similar to the Se of RLFT (0.93 (95% PCI: 0.31–0.99)). On the contrary, SCT showed the lowest Sp estimate (0.60 (95% PCI: 0.59–0.65)), whereas Sp estimates of RT-PCR (0.99 (95% PCI: 0.95–1.00)) and RLFT (0.99 (95% PCI: 0.95–1.00)) were comparable. The true prevalence of M. bovis ranged between 0.07 and 0.71. In conclusion, overall, RT-PCR and RLFT registered superior performance to SCT, making them good candidates for routine use in the Egyptian bovine tuberculosis control program

Bayesian Estimation of Diagnostic Accuracy of Three Diagnostic Tests for Bovine Tuberculosis in Egyptian Dairy Cattle Using Latent Class Models

The aim of the present study was to calculate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the single cervical tuberculin test (SCT), rapid lateral flow test (RLFT), and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in Egyptian dairy cattle herds within a Bayesian framework. The true M. bovis infection within-herd prevalence was assessed as a secondary objective. Data on the test results of SCT, RLFT, and RT-PCR for the detection of M. bovis were available from 245 cows in eleven herds in six major governorates in Egypt. A Bayesian latent class model was built for the estimation of the characteristics of the three tests. Our findings showed that Se of SCT (0.93 (95% Posterior credible interval (PCI): 0.89–0.93)) was higher than that of RT-PCR (0.83 (95% PCI: 0.28–0.93)) but was similar to the Se of RLFT (0.93 (95% PCI: 0.31–0.99)). On the contrary, SCT showed the lowest Sp estimate (0.60 (95% PCI: 0.59–0.65)), whereas Sp estimates of RT-PCR (0.99 (95% PCI: 0.95–1.00)) and RLFT (0.99 (95% PCI: 0.95–1.00)) were comparable. The true prevalence of M. bovis ranged between 0.07 and 0.71. In conclusion, overall, RT-PCR and RLFT registered superior performance to SCT, making them good candidates for routine use in the Egyptian bovine tuberculosis control program