Study of specific IgG subclass antibodies for diagnosis of Gnathostoma spinigerum

Parasitol Res. 2003 Sep;91(2):137-43. doi: 10.1007/s00436-003-0947-x. Epub 2003 Aug 9.

Abstract

Gnathostoma spinigerum infection is endemic in Thailand and many Asian countries. Current diagnosis is the skin test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG antibody against the G. spinigerum third-stage larvae (L3), but cross-reactivity is common. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of anti-G. spinigerum L3 IgG subclass antibodies for diagnosis of 43 patients with gnathostomiasis. The majority of patients with gnathostomiasis (91%) had eosinophilia. While the anti-G. spinigerum L3 IgG1 antibody provided the highest sensitivity (98%), the anti-G. spinigerum L3 IgG2 antibody had the highest specificity (88%). The ELISA that detected anti-G. spinigerum L3 IgG1 antibody could be a reliable laboratory screening test, while anti-G. spinigerum L3 IgG2 antibody could be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood*
  • Antibodies, Helminth / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Gnathostoma / growth & development
  • Gnathostoma / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin G / classification
  • Larva / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spirurida Infections / diagnosis*
  • Spirurida Infections / immunology
  • Spirurida Infections / parasitology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Immunoglobulin G