Evaluation of immunochromatographic test for the detection of antibodies against Echinococcosis granulosus.
BACKGROUND
Echinococcosis in humans is a disease caused by the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) and Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis). Serological tests are valuable, especially in the clarification of unexplained clinical findings and imaging methods. For this reason, indirect hemagglutination (IHA), latex agglutination, immunoelectrophoresis, immunoblotting, immuno-enzymatic tests, indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are used. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of an immunochromatographic test (ICT) specific for E. granulosus antibodies in the diagnosis of echinococcosis.


METHODS
ICT evaluated 102 cases of cystic echinococcosis, 38 cases of other parasitic diseases, and 50 healthy individuals. ELISA (DRG, Germany) that detects IgG antibodies specific for E. granulosus was used as the reference method.


RESULTS
The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of ICT were 96.8%, 87.5%, 98.9%, and 70%, respectively. Diagnostic value was 96.1%. No significant differences and high degrees of agreement were found between ELISA and immunochromatographic test for cystic echinococcosis. Serum samples included 4 taeniasis, 2 leishmaniasis, and 2 healthy individuals were diagnosed to be positive with immunochromatographic test.


CONCLUSIONS
The ability of test to give fast results without need for equipment, devices, and specific storage conditions is an advantage. This test may be used due to its advantages in endemic regions for screening and diagnostic purposes.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Gülden Sönmez
GS
Tamer
Department of Medical Microbiology, Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Devrim
D
Dündar
Department of Medical Microbiology, Kocaeli University, Institute of Health Sciences, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Hüseyin
H
Uzuner
Department of Biostatistics, Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Canan
C
Baydemir
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods*; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G