Evaluation of an elisa for the diagnosis of human infection with S haematobium

ABSTRACT

ShSEA prepared from eggs collected from urine samples of infected humans and SmSEA prepared from eggs collected from infected hamsters were tested in and ELISA against 226 human sera classified into four groups 30 normal controls, 82 S. mansoni infected, 64 S. haematobium infected and 50 with concurrent infection with both species. ELISA proved to be efficient diagnostic test for schistosomiasis giving 98- 100% sensitivity, but low species specificity, 23-28%. However, the mean absorbance value of S. haematobium infection sera was significantly higher with homologous than heterologous antigens which indicate the presence of S. haematobium species-specific antigens