Dynamics of Antigenemia and Coproantigens during a Human Fasciola hepatica Outbreak
AUTOR(ES)
Espino, Ana M.
FONTE
American Society for Microbiology
RESUMO
In the present study the dynamics of antigenemia and coproantigens were studied in patients with Fasciola hepatica infection during an outbreak occurring in La Palma, Pinar del Río, in the West Province of Cuba. Stool and serum samples were collected from 67 patients and 40 healthy subjects. Stool samples were studied by a simple gravity sedimentation technique and an ES78 sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for observation of eggs and detection of parasite coproantigens, respectively. Serum samples were also studied by the ES78 sandwich ELISA and an indirect ELISA to detect circulating antigens and antibodies, respectively. At the beginning of the study, 8 of 67 patients had patent infections and 59 had prepatent infections, which was determined by the recent consumption of lettuce contaminated with metacercariae of F. hepatica, the presence of clinical symptoms, and the absence of Fasciola eggs in their stools. Patients with prepatent infections were monitored by all techniques until patency. Circulating antigens were not detected in patients with patent infections. However, coproantigens were clearly detected in all patients with patent infections. On the other hand, 28.8% of patients with prepatent infections tested positive for circulating antigens and 81.4% tested positive for coproantigens in the first stool sample studied. Only two other coproantigen determinations were necessary to diagnose 93.2% of the patients. While circulating antigen levels diminished in all patients during the infection, coproantigen levels increased. The present study demonstrates that the ES78 sandwich ELISA is a better tool than parasitological examination for diagnosis of active early infection, since by the combination of the circulating-antigen detection assay and the coproantigen detection assay 91% of patients were able to be diagnosed at the beginning of the study. In contrast, a coprologic analysis repeated over several weeks was necessary to diagnose 100% of the patients.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=105191Documentos Relacionados
- Isolation of Fasciola hepatica tegument antigens.
- Population dynamics of intermediate snail hosts of Fasciola hepatica and some environmental factors in San Juan y Martinez municipality, Cuba
- Fasciola hepatica Suppresses a Protective Th1 Response against Bordetella pertussis
- Molecular Cloning and Expression of Cu/Zn-Containing Superoxide Dismutase from Fasciola hepatica
- Cloning and characterization of a female genital complex cDNA from the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica.