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REVIEW article

Front. Parasitol.
Sec. Parasite Diagnostics
Volume 3 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpara.2024.1427449

Evolution of Dirofilariasis Diagnostic Techniques from Traditional Morphological Analysis to Molecular-based Techniques: A Comprehensive Review

Provisionally accepted
Koshila Ranasinghe Koshila Ranasinghe 1,2*Deepika Amarasinghe Deepika Amarasinghe 2Melan Aththanayaka Melan Aththanayaka 3Thilina Dayananda Thilina Dayananda 3
  • 1 University of Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • 2 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
  • 3 CINEC Campus, Malabe, Sri Lanka

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Dirofilariasis, caused by the nematode Dirofilaria spp., poses significant challenges in diagnosis due to its diverse clinical manifestations and complex life cycle. This comprehensive literature review focuses on the evolution of diagnostic methodologies, spanning from traditional morphological analyses to modern emerging techniques in the context of dirofilariasis diagnosis. The review traces the historical progression of diagnostic modalities, encompassing traditional approaches such as microscopic examination, serological tests (including ELISA and IFA), Radiographic imaging, Ultrasonography, Necropsy, which laid the foundation for subsequent advancements. The integration of molecular diagnostics marks a significant turning point in dirofilariasis diagnosis with the adoption of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and real-time PCR (qPCR) facilitating enhanced sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, recent strides in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, including Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), Targeted Sequencing (TS), Metagenomic Sequencing (MS), and RNA sequencing (Transcriptome Sequencing), have revolutionized the landscape of dirofilariasis diagnostics. Emerging techniques such as Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), Digital PCR (dPCR), and Digital microfluidics are also explored for their potential to augment diagnostic accuracy. The review addresses challenges associated with standardizing molecular protocols, tackling false positives/negatives, and discusses the advantages and limitations of each technique. By providing a comprehensive overview of dirofilariasis diagnostic strategies, from traditional to cutting-edge methods, this review aims to enhance understanding of the disease's diagnostic landscape. The insights gained have implications for improved disease management and guide future research endeavors toward refining diagnostic protocols and advancing therapeutic interventions.

    Keywords: Diagnostic-tool, Emerging, Microfilaria, molecular-detection, Next-generation sequencing (NGS) 3. Epidemiology and Distribution 3.1 Global Distribution, Incidence, and Prevalence Trends of Dirofilaria spp

    Received: 03 May 2024; Accepted: 10 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ranasinghe, Amarasinghe, Aththanayaka and Dayananda. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Koshila Ranasinghe, University of Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.