Fa. Neva et al., Skin test antigens for immediate hypersensitivity prepared from infective larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis, AM J TROP M, 65(5), 2001, pp. 567-572
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health","Medical Research General Topics
More rapid and simplified diagnostic procedures are needed for the diagnosi
s of strongyloidiasis. One approach is the use of an immediate hypersensiti
vity skin test that would reliably identify infected people. Accordingly, s
omatic and excretion/secretion (E/S) antigens were prepared from filariform
larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis and were treated to remove possible ad
ventitious agents. By use of a quantitative method for measurement of skin
reactions, several preparations of the 2 antigens were tested in uninfected
controls and in various groups of patients. Doses of 0.35 mug of E/S and 4
mug of somatic antigens elicited positive skin tests in 82-100% of infecte
d people, depending on clinical status. A lower frequency of positive skin
tests was found in strongyloidiasis patients also infected with human T-cel
l lymphotropic virus type 1. Cross-reactions, especially to somatic antigen
s, were frequently found in patients with filarial infections. Despite thes
e limitations and the need for further study of specificity, these results
provide a basis for future development of a diagnostic skin test antigen fo
r strongyloidiasis.