IMMUNODIAGNOSIS OF TRICHINOSIS - EFFICACY OF SOMATIC ANTIGEN IN EARLYDETECTION OF HUMAN TRICHINOSIS

Crude antigens prepared from the infective stage larvae of Trichinella spiralis were used for antibody detection by indirect ELISA and Weste rn blotting in serum samples taken from trichinellosis patients and fr om normal, parasite-free controls. The serum specimens were collected from acute ill, symptomatic patients on the first day of treatment (Da y 0), and then two months (M2) and 4 months (M4) later. The sensitivit ies of the indirect ELISA and Western blotting on Day 0 were 81% and 9 2%, respectively. Both tests were 100% sensitive for M2 and M4 serum s amples. Every serum sample from the parasite-free controls tested nega tive by both immunological assays, indicating 100% specificity. Crude somatic antigens can therefore be used for the early detection of huma n trichinellosis (acute trichinellosis).