Evaluation of cystatin capture ELISA and sodium metaperiodate antigen treated ELISA in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis

ELISA has become the mainstay for clinical serologic evaluation of toxoplasmosis. One of the major obstacles encountered in the evaluation of ELISA is the false-positive results due to immunological cross-reactions with other parasitic diseases that exhibit some lack of specificity. Evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of two ELISA techniques: Cystatin capture ELISA and sodium metaperiodate treated antigen-ELISA [SMP-ELISA] compared to conventional ELISA, to detect IgG antibodies for crude T. gondii antigen in sera of toxoplasmosis patients. The study was carried out on 50 individuals categorized into three groups. Toxoplasmosis group included 30 patients confirmed by Sabin-Feldman dye test. Other parasitic diseases group included 10 sera from patients with amoebiasis [2], fascioliasis [2], hydatidosis [3] and schistosomiasis [3]. Control group included 10 healthy individuals. All sera under study were examined for the detection of T gondii IgG by three different ELISA techniques: Cystatin capture ELISA, SMP-ELISA amid conventional ELISA. The diagnostic performance of the three tests was statistically compared. Cystatin capture ELISA gave the best diagnostic results with 96.6% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 96.6% Positive Predictive Value [PPV], 95% Negative Predictive Value [NPV] and 96% diagnostic accuracy. In spite of the lower sensitivity and NPV of SMP-ELISA [86.6% and 82.6%, respectively] than the conventional ELISA, it had higher specificity [95%] and PPV [96.3%]. Cystatin capture ELISA improved the diagnostic performance of conventional ELISA in diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis

Chemotherapy of schistosomiasis present and past

The primary objective of chemotherapy is to cure individual patient by eradication of the infection. This eradication leads to cessation of egg deposition, which is the main pathogenic agent for the patient and community. The present generation of antischistosomal drugs provides physicians and public health practitioners with flexible, well tolerated convenient, highly efficient tools for control of schistosomal morbidity in human; in contrast, old generation of antischistosomal drugs was not

Isolation and curing of plasmid DNA from bacillus thuringiensis israelensis strains showing variable insecticidal activities

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis 4Q1-WT [B. t. i.] have 9 plasmids. 14 mutates of this wild type were prepared with cured plasmids. The wild bacterial strain, the mutants and 14 industrial strains were compared according to the number, size of plasmids and their potential to induce mortality to Aedes caspius larvae. The 108 Kb plasmid is essential for B. t. israelensis to induce insect killing

case of cervical lymphadenopathy due to pediculosis

This paper reports a case of cervical lymphadenopathy due to infestation with Pediculus h. capitis. Clinically and histopathologically the case was diagnosed to a non malignant and a non specific one