IMMUNOBLOT EVALUATION OF THE 100 AND 130 KDA ANTIGENS IN CAMEL HYDATID CYST FLUID FOR THE SERODIAGNOSIS OF HUMAN CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS IN LIBYA

Two high molecular weight antigens with molecular masses approximately 100 kDa and 130 kDa were identified by immunoblotting camel hydatid c yst fluid, with 94% sensitivity in sera from surgically confirmed Liby an cystic echinococcosis cases. 40% of sera from surgically confirmed alveolar echinococcosis cases cross-reacted with the 100 and 130 kDa a ntigens, as did 5.3% of sera from human Taenia solium cysticercosis pa tients. No cross-reaction occurred with sera from human schistosomiasi s mansoni or onchocerciasis patients. In addition, all sera from patie nts with non-hydatid space-occupying lesions (i.e. simple liver cysts, kidney cysts, lung tuberculosis, pulmonary carcinoma, pulmonary empye ma, and lung abscess) were seronegative against the same antigens, as were control serum samples from healthy individuals. The 100 and 130 k Da antigens were strongly recognized by sera from cystic echinococcosi s patients when camel or horse hydatid cyst fluid was used in immunobl otting but were only weakly recognized if sheep or human hydatid cyst fluid was used. Camel hydatid cyst fluid could be an important source of diagnostic antigens for human cystic echinococcosis in the Middle E ast endemic region.