Present aspects of immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis

Abstract

Facilitated and improved by advances in molecular biology, techniques for the immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis, including assays based on the detection of antigens circulating in the serum and/or excreted in the urine, have now reached the stage of multi-centre trials. There is a need to complement parasitological techniques as some national programmes are becoming increasingly successful in establishing control of the disease and the classical approach frequently fails to reveal low-intensity infection. Epidemiological survey teams in some areas have tentatively started to use serology and their experience indicates that antibody detection suffices in eradicated or controlled areas with low expected prevalence but that detection of circulating antigens is needed for assessment of the incidence of infection or reinfection in areas recently brought under control. Before reagents and procedures can be recommended for routine use of national control programmes, the assays must be standardized with sera from clinically well-characterized patients in geographically defined regions, hence emphasizing the need for a reference serum bank. Implementation of serological testing, carried out by national public health laboratories using standardized testing systems, would permit valid comparisons between different areas providing support for decisions regarding national health policies.

Antigens of worms and eggs showed a differentiated detection of specific IgG according to the time of Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice

“…Many different assays have been used to display such immunological reactivity, including skin hypersensitivity reactions against The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. [17][18][19][20] . But thus far, all these methods revealed low sensitivity, demonstrating the remaining inefficiency correlation between results from direct and indirect methods.…”

Diagnosing Schistosomiasis

“…Purified preparations as CEF6 (cathionic fraction 6), MSA1 (major serological antigen), MAMA (adult microsomal antigen), 37 Kda (37 larval antigen and 31/32 gut associated) have been described as possible alternatives, but they still did not prove their usefulness for the use in large scale as substitutes for parasitological methods (Bergquist 1992, 1993, Feldmeier & Poggensee 1993.…”

Improving the management of imported schistosomiasis haematobia in China: lessons from a case with multiple misdiagnoses

“…Currently, the gold standard for diagnosis of schistosomiasis haematobia still relies on the microscopic detection of parasite eggs present in urine specimens [14]; however, parasitological diagnosis in adults is difficult, particularly among persons who have chronic infections and pass only small numbers of eggs. Many immunodiagnostics and DNA-based diagnostics have been developed [15-20], which facilitate the detection of this neglected tropical disease.…”