Preliminary evaluation of dipetalonema evansi antigen in diagnosis of filariasis in Egypt by immunofluorescence antibody test

ABSTRACT

The IFAT and IHT were performed to test sera of 30 elephantiatic and 30 microfilaraemic patients and 15 controls, using intact and sonicated m.f. of W. bancrofti and D. evansi. Intact m.f. produced nonspecific fluorescence with both control and filarial sera, while sonicated m.f. produced on reaction with control sera and excellent results with filarial sera. Specificity obtained using sonicated m.f. of W. bancrofti with elephantiatic and microfilarial patients sera was 100% and 93.3% respectively. Although the percentage positivity produced by m.f. of W. bancrofti was higher than that with D. evansi yet this difference was found statistically insignificant and it is recommended to use m.f. of D. evansi as they are easier to obtain and prepare. Comparing IHT to IFAT it was found that IFAT is more sensitive, more specific and easier to perform