Author(s)

Dawala Koromtili Oumar^1*, Matthew Mutinda Munyao², Anne Wanjiru Mwangi^3,4, Rebecca Wanjiku Waihenya⁵, Peter Kipkemboi Rotich², Robinson Mugasiali Irekwa², Tonny Teya Nyandwaro², Caroline Wangui Njoroge², Joanne Jepkemei Yego^2,3, Primrose Muthoni Ndungu⁶, Sharlene Kerubo Mageto¹, Damaris Mutethya Kilei⁷, Otilmoi Poul Stephen¹, Nicole Sian Tanchu³, Grace Ngendo Kanyita⁸, Shingo Inoue³, Lucy Gitau⁹, Samson Muuo Nzou^2,3

¹Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Pan-African University Institute of Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, Nairobi, Kenya.
²Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
³Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical Medicine-Kenya Medical Research Institute Project, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁴Production Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁵Zoology Department, Jomo Kenyatta University for Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁶Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁷Department of Microbiology, Jomo Kenyatta University for Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁸Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁹Center for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which is fatal if left untreated. Its diagnosis is a challenge since the signs and symptoms of the primary phase are not specific, the existing diagnostic methods have low sensitivity and specificity, and the available drugs have some toxicity. New, robust, and cost-effective techniques are needed for the early identification of parasites. This study aimed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of two different types of polyclonal antibodies against T. b. gambiense using antigen detection ELISA. Polyclonal antibodies against the expressed proteins Tbg I2 and Tbg I17 were produced using New Zealand white rabbits. The antibody titer measured was greater than 32 g/L after the 3^rd immunization for the expressed protein Tbg I2. For the expressed protein Tbg I17, the antibody titer measured was greater than 32 g/L after the 4^th immunization. The sensitivity and specificity of the Tbg I2 polyclonal antibody confirmed with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) as gold standard were respectively 89.5% and 80.6%, while for the Tbg I17 polyclonal antibody, the sensitivity and specificity were respectively 92.1% and 88.9%. The area under the curve for the Tbg I2 polyclonal antibody was 0.90 ± 0.032, while for the Tbg I17 polyclonal antibody, the area under the curve was 0.92 ± 0.0. The Tbg I17 polyclonal antibody produced in New Zealand white rabbits has good sensitivity and good specificity; it can be successfully used in the diagnosis of HAT.

Human African Trypanosomiasis, Polyclonal Antibody, Tbg I2 Expressed Protein, Tbg I17 Expressed Protein, Sensitivity, Specificity

Oumar, D. , Munyao, M. , Mwangi, A. , Waihenya, R. , Rotich, P. , Irekwa, R. , Nyandwaro, T. , Njoroge, C. , Yego, J. , Ndungu, P. , Mageto, S. , Kilei, D. , Stephen, O. , Tanchu, N. , Kanyita, G. , Inoue, S. , Gitau, L. and Nzou, S. (2023) Use of Polyclonal Antibody for the Diagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 13, 127-139. doi: 10.4236/ajmb.2023.132009.