The immunodiagnosis of Echinococcus multilocularis infection

Abstract

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.

Development of an Immunochromatographic Test To Detect Antibodies against Recombinant Em18 for Diagnosis of Alveolar Echinococcosis

“…Moreover, these imaging techniques are unsuitable for diagnosis in isolated communities. Therefore, immunological tests have been considered important methods to confirm clinical findings, to give diagnostic help by providing information on the parasite in case of unclear images, or to survey in areas of endemicity where imaging techniques are not readily available (4,9,11). Previously, we have reported an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an immunoblot analysis (IB) by using recombinant E. multilocularis 18-kDa antigen (Em18), the breakdown product of ezrin-radixin-moesin-like protein (2) that is also known as EM10 (8), EM II/3 (7), or EM4 (10) by the cysteine peptidase, and demonstrated that these two tests have a high potential for differentially diagnosing AE (1,12,16,18).…”

Immunodiagnosis Tools for Parasitic Diseases

“…By fractionation of ES antigens with the help of membrane filtration an ES4 antigen fraction (which was found to be a glycoprotein in nature and was highly reactive) microfilaraemia sera was obtained. W. bancrofti mf ES antigen specific IgE antibody was detected in filariasis and tropical eosinophilia by immunofluorescence assay and ELISA [8]. These studies showed the detection of ES antigen specific IgG+A+M antibodies.…”

“…Two new polypeptides of the E. multilocularis metacestode, referred as to Em70 and Em90, have also been identified as potential antigens for the serodiagnosis of AE. For the sero-diagnosis of AE now a day's test mainly based on native and recombinant antigens of the Echinococcus multilocularis protoscolex and/or adults such as rEM4, EM13, Em18,16, Em18, rEm18, rEm18-1, rEm18-2 are used [8]. For effective discrimination between AE and CE patients the first echinococcus component used was Em2.…”

“…Main antigen targeted for serological tests differentiation between alveolar and cystic echinococcosis are Em1+Em2, Em18+Ag B, 16, 18, 27b kD, 18 kD, Em18, EmII/3, rEM10+rEG55, rEm18 [8]. Main copro-antigen targeted for sero-testing characteristics for Echinococcus multilocularis infection in definitive hosts are Anti-E.g (E. granulosus).…”

Indirect Heamagglutination as an Immunodiagnostic Technique for Cystic Echinococcosis in Iraqi Patients

“…Diagnosis of Cystic Echinococcosis is based currently on the identification of the parasite's structures by imaging techniques, including ultrasound, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (2). However, imaging techniques are relatively complex, do not always offer a good prospect for early diagnosis, and produce data that are sometimes difficult to interpret, being often confused with those from abscesses and neoplasm.…”