An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of IgGl antibodies specific to human cystic echinococcosis in Egypt

Human cystic hydatidosis (cystic echinococcosis) is a chronic zoonotic dise ase that results from infection with the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulos us. In Egypt, cystic echinococcosis (CE) is recognized in slaughtered lives tock by veterinarians, however, there is little information about human CE infection races. We describe an immunological assay useful for the diagnosi s of human cystic hydatidosis. Sera were collected from surgically confirme d hydatid cases (34), nonendemic subjects free from parasitic: infection (2 0) and from subjects (109) infected with other helminths (Hymenolepis nana, Schistosoma mansoni, Fasciola hepatica and Ancylostoma duodenale). Hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) of camel origin was used as antigen in an ELISA format to measure total E. granulosus specific IgG antibodies and Ige subclasses. Se nsitivity measurements of total IgG, and IgG1-4 were 100, 100, 79.4, 61.8 a nd 55.9%, respectively, whereas respective specificity reached 65.1, 97.7, 98.4, 96.1 and 83.7%. The diagnostic value of measuring IgG1 (97.7%), as as sessed by a rating index (J) for combined sensitivity and specificity was s uperior to total IgG (65.1%) and IgG2-4 (77.8, 57.9 and 39.6%, respectively ). These findings set the stage for field evaluation of the IgG1 assay in a reas endemic with human cystic hydatidosis.