Review of Rapid Diagnostic Methods for Vibrio Cholerae Detection in the Last Decade (2011-2022)

Abstract

Introduction: Cholera epidemic poses a global public health threat, heavily impacting the global economy and societies, with Africa and Asia particularly affected due to factors like; inadequate sanitation, contaminated water, and overcrowding. The associated high rates of morbidity and mortality strain productivity and healthcare costs while complicating control measures. Consequently, the World Health Organization’s cholera control initiative and the Diarrhoeal Diseases Laboratory Network advocate for rapid responses to outbreaks and continuous environmental surveillance, since traditional cholera detection methods relying on phenotypic fingerprinting, although considered the gold standard, suffer from labour-intensiveness, time-consumption, and skill requirements. This results in inadequate surveillance and delayed treatment in remote areas lacking well-equipped laboratories.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the development and performance of cholera rapid diagnostic techniques for detecting cholera in clinical samples and for environmental surveillance purposes over the past decade.
Results: Twenty-four commercially produced diagnostics were identified in January 2011. Ten more were mentioned in the literature and yet did not provide enough relevant data due to suspected production withdrawal or fall-back. The vast bulk of tests were discovered to be based on antigen or antibody detection, with DNA accounting for a large proportion of the residual tests. This study revealed a plethora of diagnostic methods, some of which have not yet made it to the commercial market. Promising approaches, such as; Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), ELISA, and simplified PCR protocols, are likely to play a significant role in future cholera screening. Findings are herein summarised in tables and figures.
Conclusion: Cholera epidemic continues to present a formidable global health challenge with economic and social repercussions. Traditional detection methods fall short in resource-limited areas, necessitating the exploration of advanced molecular techniques, like aptamers, to improve diagnosis, surveillance, and control measures, especially in regions vulnerable to cholera outbreaks.