DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE ECHINOCOCCOSIS - COMPARISON OF COPROANTIGEN AND SERUM ANTIBODY TESTS WITH ARECOLINE PURGATION IN URUGUAY

Echinococcus granulosus is one of the most important and widespread of the helminth zoonoses. Diagnosis off. granulosus infection in dogs cu rrently relies on arecoline dosing and detailed examination of the pur ge for adult worms. Two immunodiagnostic tests (ELISA) based on genus specific coproantigen detection or serum antibody (IgG, IgA and IgE) d etection were compared against arecoline purgation for the detection o f Echinococcus in naturally infected dogs in Uruguay. The coproantigen ELISA had a sensitivity of 76.9% compared with 34.6% for the serum Ig G ELISA when assessed against 26 purge positive dogs (purge worm count range 1-4331). Coproantigen reactivity was positively correlated (r = 0.65) to purge worm count, with a threshold at over 20 worms. There w as no positive correlation of antibody levels with worm counts. In 26 matched Echinococcus positive dog samples, the overall sensitivity of serological detection increased to 69.2% when seroreactivity for IgA a nd IgE antibodies were included and to 96.2% for both coproantigen and antibody assays combined. The detection of current infection of indiv idual dogs with E. granulosus by coproantigen ELISA has the potential to replace arecoline purgation, while specific serum antibody detectio n should be useful in assessing Echinococcus exposure in dog populatio ns.