Evaluation of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis comparing egg and worm antigens

ABSTRACT

Forty five bilharzial patients divided into 4 clinical groups were studied. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] using egg and worm antigens was evaluated for all the patients. The positivity rate of ELISA in our bilharzial patients was 84% using egg antigen and 91% using worm antigen. The mean values of ELISA using egg and worm antigens were significantly higher in all our groups of patients when compared to controls. The mean value of ELISA using egg antigen showed no significant difference between urinary and intestinal bilharzial cases. Significant difference was elicited when worm antigen was used. The humoral antibodies detected by ELISA using worm antigen showed significant increasing values with the progress of the disease. No such correlation was found using egg