In 2009, giant African pouched rats trained to detect tuberculosis (TB) evaluated sputum samples from 10,523 patients whose sputum had previously been evaluated by smear microscopy. Microscopists found 13.3% of the patients to be TB-positive. Simulated second-line screening by the rats revealed 620 new TB-positive patients, increasing the case detection rate by 44%. These data suggest that the rats may be useful for TB detection in developing countries, although further research is needed.
Technology Partners: MimirTech
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/using-giant-african-pouched-rats-detect-tuberculosis-human-sputum-samples-2009
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/alan-poling
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/bart-j-weetjens
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/christophe-cox-et-al
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/american-journal-tropical-medicine-and-hygiene
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/health
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/tuberculosis
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/medical-research
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/tanzania
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/diagnostic-methods
