Detection of coproantigen in early trichinellosis

Trichinellosis has become undoubtedly worldwide in distribution. Its diagno sis relies largely on the serodiagnostic procedures which are of greet valu e but unfortunately miss the enteric phase. This could be a serious diagnos tic problem in the absence of corresponding epidemiological data and typica l symptoms and signs of the disease. In this study the possibility of copro antigen detection, as an early diagnostic aid in trichinellosis, was invest igated in mice experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis. A modified double sandwich ELISA was developed using polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits and guinea pigs against larval somatic antigens. The firs t detection of coproantigen was as early as the first day post infection, g radually increasing to reach its peak on the seventh day and then decreasin g to disappear completely on the third week post infection. Another test, t he coagglutination test (Co-A) was used, and this test confirmed the previo us results. The finding of this study suggest that the coproantigen detecti on could be exploited to confirm ongoing early Trichinella spiralis infecti on. This fast and easy to use diagnostic method should improve the early in fection in human.