Rapid dot-ELISA for the detection of specific antigens in the cyst fluid from human cases of cystic echinococcosis.
A rapid dot-ELISA was developed for the detection of specific antigens in samples of cyst fluid from human cases of Echinococcus granulosus infection, permitting the confirmation of cystic echinococcosis (CE). Peroxidase-conjugated antibodies against antigen B (derived from the fluid in the cysts of sheep infected with E. granulosus) were used to test cyst-fluid samples from 22, surgically confirmed cases of human CE and 21 domestic animals (horses, sheep, buffalo, a cow and a camel) with CE. All of these samples were found to be strongly positive in the dot-ELISA, by direct reading with the naked eye. In contrast, fluid samples from seven, non-parasitic liver cysts of human origin were all negative, and a sample taken from the residual cavity left in a patient after previous CE surgery showed a weakly positive reaction. The antigen-detection assay, which can be completed within 10 min, may be a useful 'bedside' test for the differential diagnosis of cysts during surgery or percutaneous treatment for suspected CE.
Wang
Y
Y
Cestode Zoonoses Research Group, Bioscience Research Institute, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK.
Bradshaw
H
H
Rogan
M T
MT
Craig
P S
PS
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D020420:Cyst Fluid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015801:Helminth Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; C089273:antigen B, Echinococcus