The role of a recombinant hybrid protein based ELISA for the serodiagnosis of Onchocerca volvulus.
OBJECTIVE
Onchocerca volvulus infection is traditionally diagnosed by examination of skin snips for the presence of microfilariae. A disadvantage of this method is the low sensitivity particularly with light or prepatent infection. Serodiagnosis using recombinant-antigen-based assays may provide a more sensitive diagnostic test. An ELISA based on a recombinant antigen OvH3 has previously been validated using sera from endemic areas. This study investigated the role of this ELISA-based assay for use in the serodiagnosis of onchocerciasis in non-endemic areas.


METHODS
The ELISA-based assay was tested on sera from untreated patients with known onchocerciasis and on untreated and treated patients with definite or probable onchocerciasis identified from a hospital diagnostic database. The assay was also tested on sera from patients with other helminthic infections to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this assay in a tertiary referral laboratory dealing with sera from a variety of patients.


RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity of the OvH3 assay were 93.2% and 93.5%, respectively, when tested on non-endemic patients with clinical diagnosis of onchocerciasis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the potential role of the assay as a sensitive and specific test for use in the serodiagnosis of onchocerciasis in a reference laboratory dealing with sera from patients in non-endemic setting.
Andrews
J A
JA
Department of Clinical Parasitology, The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mortimer Market, London WC1E 6AU, UK. julie.andrews@whittington.nhs.uk
Bligh
W J
WJ
Chiodini
P L
PL
Bradley
J E
JE
Nde
P N
PN
Lucius
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000276:immunology*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins