Comparison of adult somatic and excretory-secretory antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of human infection with Fasciola gigantica.

ABSTRACT

Adult somatic antigen extract of Fasciola gigantica was compared with excretory-secretory (ES) antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serodiagnosis of human fascioliasis gigantica. The absorbance values in ELISA using the adult somatic antigen were not significantly different from the values obtaining using ES antigen (p > 0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the test using adult somatic extract as antigen were 100%, 98%, 70% and 100%, respectively. On the other hand, these values of the test using adult ES antigen were 100%, 99.3%, 87.5% and 100%, respectively. It appears that both somatic and ES antigens are effective antigens for use in the serodiagnosis of human fascioliasis gigantica.