Evaluation of the Biosynex AMPLIQUICK® Fecal Parasitology assays in a Belgian travel clinic.

INTRODUCTION

Molecular diagnostics have improved infectious disease detection, yet their role in parasitology remains nuanced.

METHODS

We compared the performance of the AMPLIQUICK®Fecal Parasitology assay with the conventional methods encompassing microscopy, antigen testing and in-house PCR testing, in a reference laboratory for parasitology in a travel clinic. The detection of protozoa, helminths, and microsporidia was evaluated on 107 stool samples from 99 patients with suspected gastrointestinal parasitic infections, of which 40 specimens were tested retrospectively and 67 were collected prospectively.

RESULTS

AMPLIQUICK® demonstrated high accuracy for protozoa and microsporidia (94.6%, 35/37) detecting all Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, most Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp., and all Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. The assay detected more Dientamoeba fragilis (24 vs. 12) and Blastocystis sp. (61 vs. 44) than the conventional method but the correctness of these results could not be established. AMPLIQUICK® reliably detected most clinically relevant helminths, including Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides spp., Hymenolepis nana, Taenia spp., and Enterobius vermicularis. Hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, Schistosoma mansoni, Heterophyidae/Opisthorchidae and Trichostrongylus spp. were occasionally missed.

DISCUSSION: AMPLIQUICK® demonstrated good performance compared to the conventional methods and has the potential to improve parasitology diagnostics, particularly in laboratories with limited expertise. Clinicians should interpret findings in the patient's clinical context.