Hf. Farag et al., METACERCARIAL PRECIPITIN TEST FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HUMAN FASCIOLIASIS, Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 98(6), 1995, pp. 428-430
A metacercarial precipitin test was devised for diagnosis of human fas
cioliasis. The sera tested were those of cases of fascioliasis (acute
and chronic), of schistosomiasis and of normal healthy individuals. Me
tacercariae were prepared in the laboratory from naturally infected sn
ails. Serum dilutions of 1:5 (20%) and 1:10 (10%) were incubated with
metacercariae for periods of 6, 24 and 48 hours. No precipitation was
observed when the sera of healthy persons were used. With sera of fasc
ioliasis cases a precipitate was formed which increased in amount with
time. It was more rapid in its formation and greater in its quantity
with sera of acute fascioliasis. When incubation was prolonged a free
precipitate was seen in the medium. With sera of schistosoma cases, a
precipitate was observed in a few cases only; it was negligible in amo
unt and localized to the plug area. Metacercarial precipitin is consid
ered a simple, sensitive and specific test for diagnosis of human fasc
ioliasis. It is recommended to use the serum in a dilution of 1:5 (20%
), to give preliminary results after 6 hours incubation and to confirm
24 hours later.