Serological diagnosis of human brucellosis: analysis of seven cases with neurological and cardiological manifestations.

Serum Tube Agglutination (STA) test was used as routine test to detect antibrucellar antibodies in diagnosis of brucella infection in sera (n = 75) and CSF (n = 14) from 78 patients with neurological (n = 60) and cardiological (n = 15) complaints in whom brucellosis was suspected, over a period of two and a half years from January, 1997 to July 1999. Seven (neurological-six and cardiac-one) serum samples (9.33%) were positive by STA, while none of the CSFs were positive. STA titres ranged from 1:10 to 1:1280. We report the findings of these seven cases with neurological and cardiac manifestations in whom STA were found positive. Treatment was accomplished in two cases (neurological-one and cardiac-one), while remaining five cases either were treated empirically with antitubercular treatment or lost for follow up. However these reported cases should alert clinicians to investigate for Brucella infection in cases of pyrexia of unknown origin and this condition in cases of chronic meningitis with unproven aetiology.

Antigenic analysis of Cysticercus cellulosae by crossed immunoelectrophoresis & its role in immune diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

The antigenic composition of Cysticercus cellulosae cysts excised from infected pig and autopsied human brain was analysed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis with an intermediate gel technique using rabbit hyperimmune serum. Normal pork muscle and human brain antigen were used to differentiate parasite derived components from that of host. Attempts were made to look for the rich source of parasitic immunodominant antigens by analysing preparations of different parts of cyst namely scolex and fluid using rabbit hyperimmune serum. Twenty three antigenic components were identified in sonicate extract of porcine cyst, of which 15 were parasite derived. On comparison with antigens of whole cyst sonicate, scolex showed 10, cyst fluid 9 and human cyst sonicate 11 parasite derived antigens. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of neurocysticercotic patients reacted with 12 parasite derived antigens of porcine cyst sonicate (PCS) in a heterogenous manner. It was also noticed that human cyst sonicate (HCS) lacked 4 of the parasite derived antigens present in the PCS.