Evaluación de ELISA y contrainmunoelectroforesis en el diagnóstico de la neurocisticercosis humana en Chile / Evaluation of ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis in human neurocysticercosis diagnosis in Chile

RESUMO

The aim of this work was to assess the diagnostic accuracy for neurocysticercosis of ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis techniques, in sera and cerebrospinal fluid. 208 serum samples (47 coming from patients with confirmed cysticercosis) and 87 cerebrospinal fluid samples (27 coming from patients with confirmed cysticercosis) were analyzed. A crude and standardized extract of swine muscle cysticercus cellulosae was used as antigen. ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis had a 100 percent specificity in cerebrospinal fluid, ELISA had a 85.1 percent sensitivity. Cross reactions were observed in sera of patients with confirmed hydatidosis. Thus, the high specificity of both techniques in cerebrospinal fluid is probably due to the low incidence of cerebral hydatidosis in Chile. It is concluded that for the diagnosis of neurocysteicersosis, antibodies against cysticercus cellulosae must be sought paralelly in serum and cerebrospinal fluid using ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis