1Magda E. Azab, 2 ME Bakr, 2NE Nassef, 1†Hesham M Hussein, 3KM Maher, and 2W El-Kersh.
Departments of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, 1Ain
Shams and 2Menoufiya Universities and 3Immunology
department, Theodor Bilharz Institute.
This study evaluates the role of circulating antigen (CAg) and immune complexes (CIC) in diagnosis of hydatidosis and the effect of boiling sera from hydatid patients with Di-Na-EDTA. A total of 45 cases with hepatic, pulmonary, cardiovascular and vertebral hydatidosis were studied. Non specific circulating immune complexes were detected by ELISA while hydatid circulating antigens were detected by double sandwich ELISA. Immune complexes were detected in 75.5% and circulating antigen in 31.1% of the cases. After boiling sera in presence of Di-Na-EDTA, the detection of circulating antigen increased to 42.2% and seroconversion from negative to positive occurred in 26.6% of the hydatidosis patients. On the other hand, 15.5% of the positive reactions were converted to negative which might indicate the presence of a thermolabile antigen. It is concluded that boiling of sera in presence of Di-Na-EDTA, increases circulating antigen detection in hydatidosis but the presence of thermolabile circulating hydatid antigens limits this increase.
† Corresponding Author.
Mailing address: Parasitology department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams
University, Phone: 4401380.