comparative study on some immunodiagnostic techniques currently used for the diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis in Egypt

Since 2002, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population in collaboration with the WHO implemented a lymphatic filariasis elimination campaign in Egypt. Yet, surveillance and follow-up measures detected asymptomatic microfilaraemic cases among the at risk population. The present work aimed to evaluate and compare tile diagnostic value of filarial immunoassays currently used in clinical as well as research institutions in Egypt regarding their sensitivity, specificity and reliability. Accordingly, Dirofilaria immitis adult crude antigen was evaluated as a capture molecule for anti-human filarial antibodies in serum of patients with occult as well as overt infections. A comparative study was done on a total of 82 subjects. Serum samples from all subjects were tested for the presence of anti-fliarial antibodies, utilizing reagents currently used for the diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis in Egypt. Tile commercially available Dirofilaria immitis adult crude antigen was used to detect serum IgG by indirect ELISA, lgG4 ELISA, Dot-ELISA and dipstick ELISA techniques. Among 18 microfilaraemic cases, indirect ELISA, IgG4 ELISA, Dot-ELISA and dipstick ELISA techniques were positive in 61.1%, 100%. 77.8% and 77, respectively. Corresponding figures among 20 symptomatic amicrofilaraemic cases were 95%, 0%. 85% and 80% with 75%, 95.5%, 88.6% and 88.6% specificity, respectively. Although IgG4 ELISA was more sensitive and specific in detection of microfilaraemic asymptomatic group than other ELISA techniques, Dot ELISA was found to be relatively more sensitive than other techniques among all groups of patients examined. The use of Dirofilaria immitis adult worm crude antigen in ELISA tests revealed an acceptable degree of sensitivity and specificity, in addition to its commercial availability. It is a reliable reagent with high immunodiagnostic potential

Serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii in chronic renal failure patients and renal transplant recipients

Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected in 78 patients with renal disease by ELISA. Patients were classified according to the renal status; chronic renal failure patients not on haemodialysis [G1=19], chronic renal failure patients on regular haemodialysis [G2=30], renal transplant recipient [G3=29] and 13 normal controls. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were 36.8% and 10.5% in renal failure patients not on haemodialysis, 56.7% and 16.7% in patients on regular haemodialysis and 69% and 24.1% in renal transplant recipients versus 23.1% and 0% in controls with statistical significant difference for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies only. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies levels of G3 were lower than that of Gl. It was observed that the more the exposure to dialysis, the more the risk of toxoplasmosis. It was found that 85.71% of renal transplant recipient seropositive cases for anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies were detected in one year post-transplantation and 14.28% of cases after the first year of transplantation

Risk factors predisposing to toxoplasmosis in chronic renal failure patients and renal transplant recipients

This work evaluated risk factors predisposing to toxoplasmosis in chronic renal failure patients and renal transplant recipients. The present study included 91 cases classified according to their renal status into four groups; control group, renal failure patients not on haemodialysis, renal failure patients on regular haemodialysis and renal transplant recipients group. The age groups [<20] and [30-] had the highest positivity for anti-Toxoplasrna IgG and IgM antibodies in comparison to the other age groups. The results showed no sex difference in positivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM in groups. There was no significant difference between groups regarding risk factors for contracting toxoplasmosis, clinical presentation suggestive of toxoplasmosis and diabetes mellitus. There was significant difference between all groups as regarding intake of immunosuppressiye drugs and blood transfusion