Use of trained African giant pouched rats as a predictor of clinical diagnosis of pulmonary TB
For over a decade, trained African giant pouched rats have been employed in detecting missed pulmonary TB (PTB). However, the relationship between rat-positive results and subsequent clinical PTB or extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) has not been previously reported. This report highlights the use of rat-positivity as a predictor for PTB clinical diagnosis and treatment among presumptive TB. Treating physicians were 1.39 times more likely to clinically diagnose and treat rat-positives than rat-negatives: 12% versus 9%, respectively, odds ratio=1.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.84<i>.</i> No difference was observed among EPTB.
Authors
- Cynthia D. Fast (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3764-565X)
- Stephen Mwimanzi
- Negussie Beyene (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0529-6667)
- Christophe Cox (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3118-4491)
- Gilbert Mwesiga
- Joseph Soka
- Tefera Agizew (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1848-7307)
- M. S. Stephen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7310-2724)
- R Kondo
- N Edward
Institutions
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (ET)
- Sokoine University of Agriculture (TZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Public Health Action
- Published
- 2025-09-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5588/pha.25.0010
- Primary Topic
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00