title: Sero-epidemiological survey for alveolar echinococcosis (by Em2-ELISA) of blood donors in an endemic area of Switzerland.
abstract: Sera from 17,166 blood donors living in 10 cantons of northern Switzerland in an area endemic for Echinococcus multilocularis were investigated by serological survey for alveolar echinococcosis (AE). A highly species-specific antigen (Em2) and a commonly used E. granulosus hydatid fluid antigen (EgHF) were compared for their suitability in seroepidemiology. EgHF showed a degree of nonspecificity which did not allow direct detection of AE cases. Antibody reaction with Em2 resulted in the detection of 2 asymptomatic clinical cases of AE (seroprevalence 0.01%) within this population of blood donors. A further 4 persons were positive in Em2-ELISA. These 4 persons had negative imaging studies and will be followed serologically and clinically.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D001782:Blood Donors; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; C000594589:Em2 antigen, Echinococcus multilocularis