Comparison of the efficacy of in-house-produced AgB with a domestic commercial kit for the serodiagnosis of human cystic echinococcosis by the ELISA method

AbstractCystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common zoonotic infection caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus. The disease is found worldwide, and Iran is considered an endemic area. Depending on the affected organ, the disease has different clinical signs and symptoms. Humans are regarded as dead-end intermediate hosts. CE cysts commonly develop in the liver and lungs, while they are less frequently found in other organs. Timely diagnosis of this disease is essential in humans. Diagnosis relies on imaging methods (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, and CT scan) complemented by serological testing. The present study used the indirect ELISA method to compare the efficacy of in-house-produced antigen B (AgB) and a domestic commercial kit. Hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) was extracted from the sheep liver infected with cystic echinococcosis cyst followed by preparation of AgB. It was used in the indirect ELISA test. A total of ۱۴۲ sera consisting of ۳۶ patients with pathologically confirmed CE, ۴۶ cases with other parasitic diseases, and ۶۰ healthy cases were examined using in-house AgB and a domestic commercial ELISA kit. Our findings revealed the sensitivity and specificity of the indirect ELISA using in-house AgB to be ۸۶.۱۱% and ۹۵.۲۸% respectively. The commercial kit demonstrated a sensitivity of ۷۷.۷۸% and a specificity of ۹۹.۰۶%. Although both in-house-produced AgB and commercial kit showed considerable and relatively similar diagnostic efficiency, the study results showed a higher sensitivity and validity of AgB compared with the commercial ELISA kit.Keywords: Cystic echinococcosis, Diagnosis, AgB, ELISA Keywords: Cystic echinococcosis, Diagnosis, AgB, ELISA

Keywords:

Cystic echinococcosis , Diagnosis , AgB , ELISA