Parasite-specific antibody profile in human fascioliasis: Application for immunodiagnosis of infection

The antibody isotype response to an adult Fasciola worm antigen preparation (FWAP) was examined in sera from 60 Egyptians with parasitologically confi rmed fascioliasis by an ELISA. The FWAP-specific IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies w ere found in 97-100% of the patients. The ratio of the mean absorbance valu es between infected patients and healthy controls was 9.7 and 29.7 for IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies, respectively. The IgM, IgA, IgG2, and IgG3 antibodies were less dominant. In contrast to IgG1 antibodies, which were often detec ted in sera from patients infected with Schistosoma, Echinococcus granulosu s, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, or Hymenalepis nana, FWAP-s pecific IgG4 antibodies were detected exclusively in the sera of patients w ith fascioliasis. The data thus support the conclusion that an IgG4/ELISA w ith crude FWAP as antigen may be used for sensitive and accurate immunodiag nosis of human fascioliasis.