Taenia solium is a zoonotic disease shared between humans and pigs. Humans become infected with T. solium, also known as the pork tapeworm, when they consume undercooked pork infected with porcine cysticercosis. Human cysticercosis develops when humans ingest T. solium eggs. If cysterici travel to the human brain this leads to neurocysticercosis, a leading cause of onset epilepsy in endemic …
Series: Diagnostic stories
Risk and utility in the governance of diagnostic testing: the case of genetic screening, 1960 to the present
Routine collection of blood samples from neonates – often using so-called Guthrie cards (pictured) – began in the 1960s when a number of North American and European countries set up screening programmes for phenylketonuria, a rare single-gene disorder which leads to developmental delays and early death if untreated. Such programmes have since been introduced in many other countries around the …
Humanitarian diagnostics for sleeping sickness in Uganda
A key impetus for the invention of a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for sleeping sickness (also known as human African trypanosomiasis or HAT) was the persuasive advocacy for better ‘field ready tools’ by medical humanitarian agencies such as Médecins Sans Frontières. They were engaged in fighting outbreaks of this disease, which is fatal if untreated, in contexts of weakened health …
Ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in Brazil: celebrating babies, blurring problems.
This is a photograph of a publicity for a “street corner” obstetrical ultrasound in Brazil. It proclaims: “ultrasound examinations at low prices.” The advertised “low prices” can be indeed be very low: some clinics charge less than US $10 for an ultrasound examination. The aim such examination is to confirm the existence of a pregnancy, provide reassurance, but above all …
Diagnostics without diagnosis: RDTs for Sleeping Sickness in Uganda
Diagnosing sleeping sickness (also known as human African trypanosomiasis (HAT)) is complicated, requiring the alignment of clinical suspicion with serological, parasitological, and molecular confirmation to determine appropriate treatment. Previously, diagnosis was carried out by mobile lab teams which confirmed cases in village screenings and transported patients for treatment. Since cases have declined however, expensive active screening campaigns have been phased …
Diagnosing trachoma for elimination
Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide, caused by ocular infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Trachoma is targeted for elimination as a public health problem by the year 2020. The treatment and prevention strategy to achieve elimination is known as SAFE, and includes: Surgery for in-turned eyelashes, Antibiotics, given as mass drug administration …