title: Immunoblot diagnostic test for neurognathostomiasis.
abstract: Neurognathostomiasis is a rare but severe form of human gnathostomiasis. Diagnosis of neurognathostomiasis is made presumably by using clinical manifestations. Serologic tests for neurognathostomiasis are not widely available and limited. We studied 12 patients with diagnoses of neurognathostomiasis at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. There were three types of neurognathostomiasis (five patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, one patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage, and six patients with myelitis). All patients were tested for antibodies against Gnathostoma spinigerum by an immunoblotting technique. The sensitivity and specificity of the 21-kD and 24-kD diagnostic bands were 83.3% and 100%, and 91.7% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the 21-kD and 24-kD diagnostic bands were all 100%. Both diagnostic bands are a helpful diagnostic tool for neuro gnathostomiasis and show good diagnostic properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Radiology, and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, and Research and Diagnosis Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. pewpan@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Pewpan M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Intapan
authors.forename: Piyarat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khotsri
authors.forename: Jaturat
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanpittaya
authors.forename: Verajit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chotmongkol
authors.forename: Kittisak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawanyawisuth
authors.forename: Wanchai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maleewong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D020809:Central Nervous System Helminthiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006039:Gnathostoma / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009187:Myelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G