Application of ELISA for the Diagnosis of Human Cystic Echinococosis in Benghazi, Libya

Original article

English

Abdul H . Khan 1, Mohammed A . Al-Fellani 1, Muftah Y. Ali 2; Yosef Kabti 2, Abdunnaser A . El-Buni 3

1-Department of Parasitology , Faculty of Medicine, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya. 2-Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Garyounis University, Bengahzi, Libya. 3-3-Department of Parasitology , Faculty of Medicine, Al-Fateh University, Tripoli, Libya.

Garyounis Medical Journal Vol. 22, No.1. 2005:22-26

Abstract

Background: Hydatid disease caused by larva of Echinococcus granulosus is endemic and poses a significant economic and public health problem in Libya.
Objectives: To improve the sensitivity and reproducibility of serological tests for the diagnosis of human cystic echinococcosis (EC) by using locally available hydatid antigen.
Materials and Methods: Enzyme linked immunosorbent (ELISA) and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) tests were employed to detect anti-hydatid antibodies in the serum of 30 surgically confirmed hydatid patients, 50 clinically suspected hydatidiosis patients and 20 normal healthy subjects.
Results: Somatic hydatid antigens produce significantly greater OD values (P<0.05) compared with different cyst-fluid antigens and showed higher reproducibility for the diagnosis of human CE in ELISA than IHA. Conclusion: To avoid false seronegative results in surigically confirmed and clinically suspected hydatid patients, use of E.granulosus antigens from local source in serological techniques is recommended, which would give better sensitivity. Keywords: ELISA, cystic echinococcosis. somatic-antigen Link/DOI: