Demonstration of species-specific and cross-reactive components of hydatid cyst fluid antigens

ELISA-hydatid cyst fluid antigen [HCF-Ag-ELISA] and conventional echinococcosis IHAT were assessed for cystic hydatid disease [CHD] confirmed by HCF-Ag immunoblotting assay. The sensitivity of the tests was 94.4% and 83.3% for HCF-Ag-ELISA and IHA, respectively. HCF-Ag-ELISA showed some cross reactions in tumor cases [5.5%], but no cross reaction was observed in rheumatoid arthritis patients. IHA showed 100% specificity. To confirm this data, SDS- PAGE immunoblotting using HCF-Ag was applied. Echinococcus specific reactions were reported with 44 Kda, 34 Kda, 29 Kda and 8 Kda HCF-Ag resolved bands. A cross reaction was found with 27 Kda, 21 Kda, 16 Kda and 13 Kda bands in tumor patients. Moreover, a cross reaction was found with 200 Kda, 175 Kda, 62 Kda, 52 Kda and 40 Kda in serological anti-schistosoma antibodies positive cases. So, using specific HCF-Ag immunoblotting provided 100% sensitivity and specificity in CHD

Prevalence of toxoplasma infection in Qualioubia governorate, Egypt

In this study, ELISA for toxoplasmosis was done on 152 randomly selected individuals, 31 full term parturient and 38 aborted or prematurely delivered women. Seropositivity to specific antitoxoplasma IgG antibodies was observed in 57.9%, 58.1% and 44.7% of the random, full term and aborted samples, respectively. Only 10.5%, 6.5% and 23.7% were seropositive for specific antitoxoplasma IgM, respectively. The risk of fetomaternal transmission was very high