Abdominal angiostrongyliasis can be diagnosed with a immunochromatographic rapid test with recombinant galactin from Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Abstract

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is the causative agent of abdominal angiostrongyliasis, a zoonotic infection that may produce severe eosinophilic enterocolitis or hepatitis in humans. Parasites are usually not released in stools and serology has an important role in diagnosis. Since cross-reactivity is demonstrated between A. costaricensis and another metastrongylid worm, A. cantonensis, we tested heterologous recombinant galectin as a probe in an immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic test (ICT-RDT) for detection of anti-A. costaricensis antibodies. Almost all (11/12) positive control sera from A. costaricensis infected patients were positive at ICT RDT. These are preliminary indications that r-galectin ICT-RDT is useful for diagnosing A. costaricensis infection.

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis in the Americas: fifty years since the discovery of a new metastrongylid species, Angiostrongylus costaricensis

“…A recombinant galectin from A. cantonensis has been used as an antigen for the diagnosis of cerebral angiostrongyliasis in a point-of-care immunochromatographic test. Using this assay, anti- A. costaricensis antibodies were identified in 11 out of 12 histology-proven infections and stands as a promising serological tool for AA [ 130 ]. Other homologous recombinant antigens have been under study, and a combination of several antigens [ 131 , 132 ] and strategies to improve specificity [ 132 ] would be the way forward for antibody detection in AA.…”

Case Report: Angiostrongylus cantonesis Myelitis in Thailand

“…The accuracy of this test is comparable to that of the standard method, and it is used as the referral method for measuring the accuracy of other test kits. 6,13 The results of serologic testing for G. spinigerum were negative, thereby ruling out neuro-gnathostomiasis. A partial response to dexamethasone and albendazole was observed as expected.…”

A practical guide for the diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis

“…Difficulties in obtaining large numbers of A. costaricensis adult specimens and maintaining the parasite’s life cycle have prompted the use of whole crude antigens [ 32 ] and recombinant proteins (galectin) [ 33 ] from its congeneric species A. cantonensis for serological testing [ 32 ], which have proven successful. Since these assays use heterologous proteins of A. cantonensis , epidemiological factors as well as the patient’s clinical history and manifestations should be considered for the correct interpretation of the results and to discard infection with A. cantonensis .…”

“…Since these assays use heterologous proteins of A. cantonensis , epidemiological factors as well as the patient’s clinical history and manifestations should be considered for the correct interpretation of the results and to discard infection with A. cantonensis . It is highly likely that future protocols will involve rapid tests that use homologous recombinant antigens [ 33 , 34 ]. Besides improving the reproducibility of these assays, highly purified and well-characterized A. costaricensis antigens may prevent cross-reactivity with other nematode species, and specifically to the threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis [ 31 , 35 ].…”