Transnasal Brain Sampling for Human Rabies Diagnosis

<b>Introduction:</b> Rabies remains a significant global threat, yet accurate estimations of its impact are hindered by the lack of confirmatory diagnoses. Postmortem diagnosis of rabies traditionally involves invasive brain tissue testing, a process met with resistance from deceased pat...

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Main Authors: Moses Barima Djimatey, Abdul-Rahim Abubakar, Augustina Angelina Sylverken, Theophilus Odoom, Braimah Baba Abubakari, John Akwasi Ohemeng, Gowri Yale, Frederic Lohr, Luke Gamble, Anita Mahadevan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Anatomia
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0545/3/4/18
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author Moses Barima Djimatey
Abdul-Rahim Abubakar
Augustina Angelina Sylverken
Theophilus Odoom
Braimah Baba Abubakari
John Akwasi Ohemeng
Gowri Yale
Frederic Lohr
Luke Gamble
Anita Mahadevan
author_facet Moses Barima Djimatey
Abdul-Rahim Abubakar
Augustina Angelina Sylverken
Theophilus Odoom
Braimah Baba Abubakari
John Akwasi Ohemeng
Gowri Yale
Frederic Lohr
Luke Gamble
Anita Mahadevan
author_sort Moses Barima Djimatey
collection DOAJ
description <b>Introduction:</b> Rabies remains a significant global threat, yet accurate estimations of its impact are hindered by the lack of confirmatory diagnoses. Postmortem diagnosis of rabies traditionally involves invasive brain tissue testing, a process met with resistance from deceased patients’ families, impeding consent. This paper presents and evaluates an innovative yet unpublished transnasal approach for postmortem brain tissue collection, offering a minimally invasive, easier, faster, and safer method. This method preserves the cadaver’s integrity, potentially easing family reluctance towards autopsies. The limited testing of both human and animal rabies in Ghana highlights the challenges in diagnosing this fatal disease. Scarce diagnostic resources and the complexity of obtaining brain tissue samples exacerbate the issue. Cultural and religious beliefs surrounding autopsies contribute to familial hesitation, as families view these procedures as disruptive and disfiguring, further complicating consent. <b>Methodology:</b> The transnasal technique involves approaching the brain tissue through the nostrils and cribriform plate without any superficial manipulation of the patient’s head and face, thereby preserving the aesthetics and natural features of the person. <b>Results:</b> Technological advancements and seamless One Health collaboration among governmental, non-governmental, and research entities locally and globally have culminated in Ghana’s first confirmed rabies diagnosis using this method of brain tissue collection. This success emphasizes the efficiency and feasibility of the transnasal brain collection approach and the invaluable role of the One Health approach and collaborative efforts in overcoming diagnostic challenges in rabies control.
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spelling doaj-art-3f620bdbb19b494a8b92fc3bf490cbb92025-08-20T02:53:40ZengMDPI AGAnatomia2813-05452024-09-013422122610.3390/anatomia3040018Transnasal Brain Sampling for Human Rabies DiagnosisMoses Barima Djimatey0Abdul-Rahim Abubakar1Augustina Angelina Sylverken2Theophilus Odoom3Braimah Baba Abubakari4John Akwasi Ohemeng5Gowri Yale6Frederic Lohr7Luke Gamble8Anita Mahadevan9Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, North East Region, Gambaga P.O. Box 2, GhanaRegional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, North East Region, Gambaga P.O. Box 2, GhanaKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KCCR, UPO, PMB, KNUST, Kumasi 00233, GhanaAccra Veterinary Laboratory, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra P.O. Box M161, GhanaRegional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, North East Region, Gambaga P.O. Box 2, GhanaVeterinary Service Division, North East Region, Nalerigu P.O. Box 29, GhanaMission Rabies India, Flat # B-C2, Veterinary Hospital Complex, Tonca, Panaji 403002, Goa, IndiaMission Rabies, Cranborne, Dorset BH21 5PZ, UKMission Rabies, Cranborne, Dorset BH21 5PZ, UKDepartment of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health, and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India<b>Introduction:</b> Rabies remains a significant global threat, yet accurate estimations of its impact are hindered by the lack of confirmatory diagnoses. Postmortem diagnosis of rabies traditionally involves invasive brain tissue testing, a process met with resistance from deceased patients’ families, impeding consent. This paper presents and evaluates an innovative yet unpublished transnasal approach for postmortem brain tissue collection, offering a minimally invasive, easier, faster, and safer method. This method preserves the cadaver’s integrity, potentially easing family reluctance towards autopsies. The limited testing of both human and animal rabies in Ghana highlights the challenges in diagnosing this fatal disease. Scarce diagnostic resources and the complexity of obtaining brain tissue samples exacerbate the issue. Cultural and religious beliefs surrounding autopsies contribute to familial hesitation, as families view these procedures as disruptive and disfiguring, further complicating consent. <b>Methodology:</b> The transnasal technique involves approaching the brain tissue through the nostrils and cribriform plate without any superficial manipulation of the patient’s head and face, thereby preserving the aesthetics and natural features of the person. <b>Results:</b> Technological advancements and seamless One Health collaboration among governmental, non-governmental, and research entities locally and globally have culminated in Ghana’s first confirmed rabies diagnosis using this method of brain tissue collection. This success emphasizes the efficiency and feasibility of the transnasal brain collection approach and the invaluable role of the One Health approach and collaborative efforts in overcoming diagnostic challenges in rabies control.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0545/3/4/18rabiesbrain tissuediagnosisautopsytransnasalone health
spellingShingle Moses Barima Djimatey
Abdul-Rahim Abubakar
Augustina Angelina Sylverken
Theophilus Odoom
Braimah Baba Abubakari
John Akwasi Ohemeng
Gowri Yale
Frederic Lohr
Luke Gamble
Anita Mahadevan
Transnasal Brain Sampling for Human Rabies Diagnosis
Anatomia
rabies
brain tissue
diagnosis
autopsy
transnasal
one health
title Transnasal Brain Sampling for Human Rabies Diagnosis
title_full Transnasal Brain Sampling for Human Rabies Diagnosis
title_fullStr Transnasal Brain Sampling for Human Rabies Diagnosis
title_full_unstemmed Transnasal Brain Sampling for Human Rabies Diagnosis
title_short Transnasal Brain Sampling for Human Rabies Diagnosis
title_sort transnasal brain sampling for human rabies diagnosis
topic rabies
brain tissue
diagnosis
autopsy
transnasal
one health
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0545/3/4/18
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AT theophilusodoom transnasalbrainsamplingforhumanrabiesdiagnosis
AT braimahbabaabubakari transnasalbrainsamplingforhumanrabiesdiagnosis
AT johnakwasiohemeng transnasalbrainsamplingforhumanrabiesdiagnosis
AT gowriyale transnasalbrainsamplingforhumanrabiesdiagnosis
AT fredericlohr transnasalbrainsamplingforhumanrabiesdiagnosis
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