Leapfrog diagnostics: Demonstration of a broad spectrum pathogen identification platform in a resource-limited setting

Tomasz A Leski; Rashid Ansumana; Anthony P Malanoski; David H Jimmy; Umaru Bangura; Brian R Barrows; Morie Alpha; Bashiru M Koroma; Nina C Long; Abu J Sundufu; Alfred S Bockarie; Baochuan Lin; David A Stenger

doi:10.1186/1478-4505-10-22

Leapfrog diagnostics: Demonstration of a broad spectrum pathogen identification platform in a resource-limited setting

Tomasz A Leski, Rashid Ansumana, Anthony P Malanoski, David H Jimmy, Umaru Bangura, Brian R Barrows, Morie Alpha, Bashiru M Koroma, Nina C Long, Abu J Sundufu, Alfred S Bockarie, Baochuan Lin, David A Stenger

International Public Health

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background

Resource-limited tropical countries are home to numerous infectious pathogens of both human and zoonotic origin. A capability for early detection to allow rapid outbreak containment and prevent spread to non-endemic regions is severely impaired by inadequate diagnostic laboratory capacity, the absence of a “cold chain” and the lack of highly trained personnel. Building up detection capacity in these countries by direct replication of the systems existing in developed countries is not a feasible approach and instead requires “leapfrogging” to the deployment of the newest diagnostic systems that do not have the infrastructure requirements of systems used in developed countries.

Methods

A laboratory for molecular diagnostics of infectious agents was established in Bo, Sierra Leone with a hybrid solar/diesel/battery system to ensure stable power supply and a satellite modem to enable efficient communication. An array of room temperature stabilization and refrigeration technologies for reliable transport and storage of reagents and biological samples were also tested to ensure sustainable laboratory supplies for diagnostic assays.

Results

The laboratory demonstrated its operational proficiency by conducting an investigation of a suspected avian influenza outbreak at a commercial poultry farm at Bo using broad range resequencing microarrays and real time RT-PCR. The results of the investigation excluded influenza viruses as a possible cause of the outbreak and indicated a link between the outbreak and the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that by application of a carefully selected set of technologies and sufficient personnel training, it is feasible to deploy and effectively use a broad-range infectious pathogen detection technology in a severely resource-limited setting.

Original language	English
Article number	22
Pages (from-to)	e22
Journal	Health Research Policy and Systems
Volume	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-10-22
Publication status	Published - 4 Jul 2012

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10.1186/1478-4505-10-22Licence: CC BY

Heal Res Pol Sys 10 22Final published version, 292 KBLicence: CC BY

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Leski, T. A., Ansumana, R., Malanoski, A. P., Jimmy, D. H., Bangura, U., Barrows, B. R., Alpha, M., Koroma, B. M., Long, N. C., Sundufu, A. J., Bockarie, A. S., Lin, B., & Stenger, D. A. (2012). Leapfrog diagnostics: Demonstration of a broad spectrum pathogen identification platform in a resource-limited setting. Health Research Policy and Systems, 10, e22. Article 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-10-22

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title = "Leapfrog diagnostics: Demonstration of a broad spectrum pathogen identification platform in a resource-limited setting",

abstract = "BackgroundResource-limited tropical countries are home to numerous infectious pathogens of both human and zoonotic origin. A capability for early detection to allow rapid outbreak containment and prevent spread to non-endemic regions is severely impaired by inadequate diagnostic laboratory capacity, the absence of a “cold chain” and the lack of highly trained personnel. Building up detection capacity in these countries by direct replication of the systems existing in developed countries is not a feasible approach and instead requires “leapfrogging” to the deployment of the newest diagnostic systems that do not have the infrastructure requirements of systems used in developed countries.MethodsA laboratory for molecular diagnostics of infectious agents was established in Bo, Sierra Leone with a hybrid solar/diesel/battery system to ensure stable power supply and a satellite modem to enable efficient communication. An array of room temperature stabilization and refrigeration technologies for reliable transport and storage of reagents and biological samples were also tested to ensure sustainable laboratory supplies for diagnostic assays.ResultsThe laboratory demonstrated its operational proficiency by conducting an investigation of a suspected avian influenza outbreak at a commercial poultry farm at Bo using broad range resequencing microarrays and real time RT-PCR. The results of the investigation excluded influenza viruses as a possible cause of the outbreak and indicated a link between the outbreak and the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that by application of a carefully selected set of technologies and sufficient personnel training, it is feasible to deploy and effectively use a broad-range infectious pathogen detection technology in a severely resource-limited setting.",

author = "Leski, \{Tomasz A\} and Rashid Ansumana and Malanoski, \{Anthony P\} and Jimmy, \{David H\} and Umaru Bangura and Barrows, \{Brian R\} and Morie Alpha and Koroma, \{Bashiru M\} and Long, \{Nina C\} and Sundufu, \{Abu J\} and Bockarie, \{Alfred S\} and Baochuan Lin and Stenger, \{David A\}",

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doi = "10.1186/1478-4505-10-22",

language = "English",

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Leski, TA, Ansumana, R, Malanoski, AP, Jimmy, DH, Bangura, U, Barrows, BR, Alpha, M, Koroma, BM, Long, NC, Sundufu, AJ, Bockarie, AS, Lin, B & Stenger, DA 2012, 'Leapfrog diagnostics: Demonstration of a broad spectrum pathogen identification platform in a resource-limited setting', Health Research Policy and Systems, vol. 10, 22, pp. e22. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-10-22

TY - JOUR

T1 - Leapfrog diagnostics: Demonstration of a broad spectrum pathogen identification platform in a resource-limited setting

AU - Leski, Tomasz A

AU - Ansumana, Rashid

AU - Malanoski, Anthony P

AU - Jimmy, David H

AU - Bangura, Umaru

AU - Barrows, Brian R

AU - Alpha, Morie

AU - Koroma, Bashiru M

AU - Long, Nina C

AU - Sundufu, Abu J

AU - Bockarie, Alfred S

AU - Lin, Baochuan

AU - Stenger, David A

PY - 2012/7/4

Y1 - 2012/7/4

N2 - BackgroundResource-limited tropical countries are home to numerous infectious pathogens of both human and zoonotic origin. A capability for early detection to allow rapid outbreak containment and prevent spread to non-endemic regions is severely impaired by inadequate diagnostic laboratory capacity, the absence of a “cold chain” and the lack of highly trained personnel. Building up detection capacity in these countries by direct replication of the systems existing in developed countries is not a feasible approach and instead requires “leapfrogging” to the deployment of the newest diagnostic systems that do not have the infrastructure requirements of systems used in developed countries.MethodsA laboratory for molecular diagnostics of infectious agents was established in Bo, Sierra Leone with a hybrid solar/diesel/battery system to ensure stable power supply and a satellite modem to enable efficient communication. An array of room temperature stabilization and refrigeration technologies for reliable transport and storage of reagents and biological samples were also tested to ensure sustainable laboratory supplies for diagnostic assays.ResultsThe laboratory demonstrated its operational proficiency by conducting an investigation of a suspected avian influenza outbreak at a commercial poultry farm at Bo using broad range resequencing microarrays and real time RT-PCR. The results of the investigation excluded influenza viruses as a possible cause of the outbreak and indicated a link between the outbreak and the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that by application of a carefully selected set of technologies and sufficient personnel training, it is feasible to deploy and effectively use a broad-range infectious pathogen detection technology in a severely resource-limited setting.

AB - BackgroundResource-limited tropical countries are home to numerous infectious pathogens of both human and zoonotic origin. A capability for early detection to allow rapid outbreak containment and prevent spread to non-endemic regions is severely impaired by inadequate diagnostic laboratory capacity, the absence of a “cold chain” and the lack of highly trained personnel. Building up detection capacity in these countries by direct replication of the systems existing in developed countries is not a feasible approach and instead requires “leapfrogging” to the deployment of the newest diagnostic systems that do not have the infrastructure requirements of systems used in developed countries.MethodsA laboratory for molecular diagnostics of infectious agents was established in Bo, Sierra Leone with a hybrid solar/diesel/battery system to ensure stable power supply and a satellite modem to enable efficient communication. An array of room temperature stabilization and refrigeration technologies for reliable transport and storage of reagents and biological samples were also tested to ensure sustainable laboratory supplies for diagnostic assays.ResultsThe laboratory demonstrated its operational proficiency by conducting an investigation of a suspected avian influenza outbreak at a commercial poultry farm at Bo using broad range resequencing microarrays and real time RT-PCR. The results of the investigation excluded influenza viruses as a possible cause of the outbreak and indicated a link between the outbreak and the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that by application of a carefully selected set of technologies and sufficient personnel training, it is feasible to deploy and effectively use a broad-range infectious pathogen detection technology in a severely resource-limited setting.

U2 - 10.1186/1478-4505-10-22

DO - 10.1186/1478-4505-10-22

M3 - Article

SN - 1478-4505

VL - 10

SP - e22

JO - Health Research Policy and Systems

JF - Health Research Policy and Systems

M1 - 22

ER -

Leapfrog diagnostics: Demonstration of a broad spectrum pathogen identification platform in a resource-limited setting

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