DOST, CLSU develop rapid on-site test kits for leptospirosis, schistosomiasis
Developed through a collaboration between the Central Luzon State University and the DOST Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, the test kits can be used to determine if floodwaters contain leptospira, the bacteria that causes leptospirosis, and schistosoma parasite that causes schistosomiasis.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted through the urine of infected animals such as rats. The urine may mix with floodwater and get into the bodies of persons wading through floods
Its symptoms include fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain, and headaches.
Schistosomiasis is caused by parasitic worms. Some of its symptoms are itchy skin, fever, headaches, diarrhea, and blood in urine.
'We developed a molecular-based diagnostic tool to precisely detect it. The traditional [testing] is laborious. Unlike this one, it is precise because it's molecular-based, so DNA-based. So, we made it cheaper and more practical so that hindi na po siya dadalhin sa laboratory (so that you no longer have to take it to the laboratory). On-field po ang detection (It can be detected on the field),' researcher Aldrin Corpuz explained during the 8th National Research and Development Conference last month.
Corpuz said the detection process takes 45 minutes.
'The policy ng [Department of Health] is that when there is a flood, they recommend that people not to go sa flood. However, in this situation ngayon, sobrang impossible kung magtatrabaho mga tao, kailangan kumita… What is important here is that if meron tayong technology like this, we can detect the presence of these diseases in flood areas. If wala naman talaga na presence, they can go [into the] flood. They can go to their work, schools, lulusong sa baha,' he said.
(The policy of the [Department of Health] is that when there is a flood, they recommend that people not go into the flood. However, in this current situation, it's very impossible since people are working and need to earn... What is important is that if we have a technology like this, we can detect the presence of these diseases in flood areas. If there is no presence, they can go [into the] flood. They can go to their work and schools and wade through floodwaters.)
'Ang data ng DOH for the presence of leptospira is where magkakaroon na ng sakit yung tao (where the people are getting sick). However, we aim to really test the actual field,' he added.
In addition to conducting field testing and obtaining Food and Drug Administration permits, the researchers aim to sell the kits to local government units for P4,000 each. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
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