SERUM ANTIBODY-RESPONSES IN OPISTHORCHIASIS

We evaluated an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using crude parasite homogenates as a diagnostic test for Opisthorchis viverrini infection in humans. Serum antibody (Ab) responses to O. viverrini adult worm h omogenate (AWH) and metacercaria homogenate (MH) were studied in 83 in fected residents of an opisthorchiasis-endemic area in Thailand. Eleva ted levels of Ab persisted for over 1 year following curative treatmen t with praziquantel, and cross-reactivity to O. viverrini AWH and MH a ntigens was observed in sera from individuals with other parasitic inf ections. Serum Ab to crude AWH and MH are therefore unsuitable for imm unodiagnosis since they may be non-specific and would not differentiat e between ongoing and past infection.