Evaluation of purified antigen fraction in the immunodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis

Parasitol Res. 2014 Aug;113(8):2861-7. doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-3947-0. Epub 2014 May 15.

Abstract

Echinococcus granulosus antigen B fraction (AgB) was evaluated for its prognostic value in the serological follow-up of cystic echinococcosis (CE), compared to crude hydatid fluid (HF) as well as soluble somatic Echinococcus multilocularis antigen (Em). The sensitivity and specificity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were compared examining 177 sera from patients with different clinical courses and outcome of CE and with other parasitic infections. AgB-ELISA in comparison to confirmed cystic echinococcosis has 96.4% sensitivity and 97.2% specificity, with 93.1% positive predictive value and 98.6% negative predictive value. The HF-ELISA was more sensitive than the AgB-ELISA, but its specificity was lower. Our results indicate that AgB-ELISA was more satisfactory for seroconfirmation of acute echinococcosis than HF-ELISA. Moreover, the AgB-ELISA has a potential key role in control measures implemented in patients undergoing surgery. In sera of patients more than 3 months after the treatment, no antibody response to antigen B was detected; however, with conventionally used HF-ELISA, they were still positive. The AgB is recommended for the confirmatory diagnosis. AgB-WB allocated low background with typical "triplet" bands at 8-12-16 kDa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood
  • Antigens, Helminth*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Echinococcosis / diagnosis*
  • Echinococcus multilocularis
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Tests*
  • Lipoproteins*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serologic Tests / methods

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Lipoproteins
  • antigen B, Echinococcus granulosus