Fasciola gigantica-specific antigens: Purification by a continuous-elutionmethod and its evaluation for the diagnosis of human fascioliasis

Immunodominant antigens of an approximate molecular mass of 27 kD were obta ined from an excretory-secretory product of adult Fasciola gigantica by a c ontinuous-elution method. An indirect ELISA using the antigens obtained by this relatively simple procedure was developed for detecting specific antib odies from patients infected with F. gigantica. Sera from patients with oth er parasitic infections, healthy volunteers, and cholangiocarcinoma were al so analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predic tive values for this ELISA using the fractionated antigens were 100%. The d ata indicated a possible correlation of antibodies to F. gigantica with cho langiocarcinoma.