Cross-reactions in immunodiagnosis of patients infected with schistosoma, fasciola and heterophyes using Elisa

ABSTRACT

Cross-reactions in immuno-diagnosis using schistosomal soluble egg antigen [SEA] and fasciola adult worm antigen in cases with fascioliasis, heterophyiasis and schistosomiasis were studied by ELISA technique. False positive reaction occurred in 10% of cases with fascioliasis and heterophyiasis, respectively, when using schistosomal SEA. Using fasciola crude antigen, false positive reaction occurred in 25% of cases with schistosomiasis and 35% with heterophyiasis. The specificity of SEA in heterologous cases was 87%, while that of fasciola antigen was 70%. This difference was found to be statistically significant