Echinococcosis in Egypt: Evaluation of the Indirect Haemagglutination and Latex Agglutination Tests for Echinococcal Serologic Surveys.

摘要

Sera obtained from rabbits immunised with schistosomal antigen reacted with echinococcal antigen in the IHA test but not in the LA test. This indicates that schistosomal antibodies non-specifically react with echinococcal antigen in the IHA test but not in the LA test. Sera from three human populations were examined for their reactivity with echinococcal antigen by the IHA and LA tests. Thirty-six per cent of schistosome proven human cases, 23.8 per cent of farmers who most probably have or have had schistosomiasis and 5.3 per cent of presumably schistosome free humans were IHA positive. In the LA test, 5.6 per cent, 2.7 per cent and 0.28 per cent of those three groups respectively were positive. Schistosomal antibodies cross reacting with echinococcal antigen most probably accounts for the significantly high prevalences obtained in the IHA test. In Egypt, where schistosomiasis is an endemic disease with an incidence of over 60 per cent, the use of the IHA test alone for echinococcosis surveys is therefore not recommended. The LA test being more specific, though less sensitive, should give more reliable results. A combination of the LA test with other serological tests such as the BF test is recommended for echinococcal serologic surveys in Egypt. (Author)