Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe zoonotic disease caused by the metacestode stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. The infection can have fatal consequences in humans if treatment is not provided, so early diagnosis is fundamental for initiating treatment and reducing morbidity and mortality. In addition, detection of the parasite in the definitive host plays a central role in epidemiological studies and surveillance programmes for control of AE. This review presents an overview of the present situation regarding the immunodiagnosis of E. multilocularis infection. Special attention is given to the description of the native, partially purified and recombinant antigens available currently for immunodiagnostic purposes. Recent advances in the primary serodiagnosis and follow-up of AE patients are highlighted, including the detection of specific cytokine profiles. Progress in the immunodiagnosis of intestinal E. multilocularis infection in definitive hosts, particularly the detection of excretory-secretory and integument products of the worm in faeces (copro-antigens) by ELISA, is also discussed.
This study describes, for the first time, the characterization of excretory-secretory antigens (ES-Ag) from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces, evaluating their usefulness in the immunodiagnosis of human cystic echinococcosis. ES-Ag were obtained from the first 50 h maintenance of protoscoleces in vitro. This preparation contained over 20 major protein components which could be distinguished by 1-dimensional SDS-PAGE with apparent masses between 9 and 300 kDa. The culture of of protoscoleces from liver produced a greater variety of excretory-secretory protein components than those from lung. Determination of enzymatic activities of secreted proteins revealed the presence of phosphatases, lipases and glucosidases, but no proteases. These findings were compared to those obtained from somatic extracts of protoscoleces and hydatid cyst fluid products. Immunochemical characterization was performed by immunoblotting with sera from individuals infected by cystic echinococcosis (n = 15), non-hydatidic parasitoses (n = 19), various liver diseases (n = 24), lung neoplasia (n = 16), and healthy donors (n = 18). Antigens with apparent masses of 89, 74, 47/50, 32, and 20 kDa showed specificity for immunodiagnosis of human hydatidosis. The 89 and 74 kDa components corresponded to antigens not yet described in E. granulosus, whereas proteins of 41-43 kDa and 91-95 kDa were recognized by the majority of the non-hydatid sera studied.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.