A quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis using a purified fraction from Taenia solium cysticerci.
A quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis is described. The ELISA was standardized using a purified Taenia solium cysticerci fraction (PCF) obtained by ion exchange chromatography. The ELISA using PCF (PCF-ELISA) and a qualitative ELISA using a whole extract from T. solium cysticerci (WEC-ELISA) were used to screen for cysticercus-specific IgG antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 57 patients with neurocysticercosis and 50 patients with other neurologic disorders. The sensitivity of both assays was 95%, whereas the specificities of PCF-ELISA and WEC-ELISA were 100% and 92%, respectively. The excellent sensitivity and specificity of the PCF-ELISA make this assay a potentially useful tool in screening for antibodies against T. solium cysticerci.
da Silva
A D
AD
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Quagliato
E M
EM
Rossi
C L
CL
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003552:Cysticercus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth