Diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis, central Peruvian Highlands.
We evaluated prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in a central Peruvian Highland district by using 4 diagnostic methods: ultrasonography for 949 persons, radiography for 829, and 2 serologic tests for 929 (2 immunoblot formats using bovine hydatid cyst fluid [IBCF] and recombinant EpC1 glutathione S-transferase [rEpC1-GST] antigens). For the IBCF and rEpC1-GST testing, prevalence of liver and pulmonary CE was 4.7% and 1.1% and seropositivity was 8.9% and 19.7%, respectively. Frequency of seropositive results for IBCF and rEpC1-GST testing was 35.7% and 16.7% (all hepatic cysts), 47.1% and 29.4% (hepatic calcifications excluded), and 22.2% and 33.3% (lung cysts), respectively. Weak immune response against lung cysts, calcified cysts, small cysts, and cysts in sites other than lung and liver might explain the poor performance of the serodiagnostic tests. We confirm that CE is highly endemic to Peru and emphasize the limited performance of available serologic assays in the field.
Gavidia
Cesar M
CM
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, San Borja, Lima, Peru. cgavidia@jhsph.edu
Gonzalez
Armando E
AE
Zhang
Wenbao
W
McManus
Donald P
DP
Lopera
Luis
L
Ninaquispe
Berenice
B
Garcia
Hector H
HH
Rodríguez
Silvia
S
Verastegui
Manuela
M
Calderon
Carmen
C
Pan
William K Y
WK
Gilman
Robert H
RH
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012424:Rural Population; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth