Evaluation of two serological tests in diagnosis of human cases of biliary and ectopic fascioliasis

In the present study, sera were examined using Fasciola-IHA, F-ELISA and Schistosoma-IHA. The seropositive schistosomal patients were subjected to rectal snip, while the seropositive fascioliasis ones were examined radiologically by plain chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography. Both F-IHA and F-ELISA gave 100% sensitivity. The specificity of both tests was 90.4% and 100%, respectively. With the S-IHA, the parasitologically proven schistosomal mansoni patients gave 95% positivity; while, the proven fascioliasis patients gave false positivity [8%] with this S-IHA. The radiological findings of the fascioliasis patients confirmed ectopic pleuropulmonary infection in five patients. Ascitis was detected in one patient. The pleural effusion and ascitic fluids showed high eosinophils. However, Fasciola eggs were detected in three patients only. Two patients showed hepatic nodules and another two had hepatic cystic lesions. Three patients had immature Fasciola worms in gall bladder. For the diagnosis of human fascioliasis, serological and radiological means should be done together with the stool examination. This is particularly true in chronic cases and in schistosomiasis mansoni endemic areas

use of Ziehl-Neelsen stain, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and nested polymerase chain reaction in diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis in immuno-competent,- compromised patients

In the present study, Cryptosporidium parvum was diagnosed in stool by Ziehl-Neelsen [Z-N] stain, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The detected cases were 5.3%, 8.3% and 9.6% by the previous three methods, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the different techniques were evaluated. The Z-N stain showed the lowest sensitivity and accuracy in relation to either ELISA or PCR. Moreover, the study revealed that the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ELISA detection of Cryptosporidium in relation to the detection of DNA in stool by PCR were 84.2%, 96% and 88.8%, respectively. Consequently, PCR showed the best results. From a practical point of view, ELISA was recommended for widespread use in the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis