ABSTRACT
We have developed a dot immunobinding assay (CM) for the serodiagnosis of the human hydatidosis. The assay employs Samaron blue colloidal dye particles conjugated to hydatid antigen (HA) or protein A, both of which serve as visualizing agents. The test is simple and can be completed in 1 h. It requires few reagents, a nitrocellulose membrane (NC) strip onto which the HA has been bound, and the colored conjugates. It is sensitive and specific for the detection of anti-HA antibodies and generally agrees closely with the data from the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Antigens, Helminth , Echinococcosis/diagnosis , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Humans , Immunoblotting/methods , Sensitivity and Specificity , Serologic Tests , Staphylococcal Protein AABSTRACT
Helicobacter pylori infection is strongly associated with chronic gastritis and peptic ulceration. As the prevalence of H. pylori infection in southern European populations is not known, a serological survey of 1069 samples from three different age groups in the Greek population was carried out with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to these bacteria. The antigen was an ultracentrifuged supernate of whole cell sonicates of 5 isolates of H. pylori assessed by electrophoresis and by immunoblotting with negative and positive sera. The sensitivity of the test was 97.43% and the specificity 100% for IgG antibodies; IgA and IgM antibodies to the antigen preparation were not found. Antibodies to H. pylori were detected among 39.4% of children aged 1-10 years, 67.1% of recruits (20-27 years) and 70% of blood donors (20-50 years). The prevalence of antibodies did not differ with sex in each of the age groups. The proportion of individuals with antibodies to H. pylori was higher in the younger age groups than those reported for similar age groups in western Europe.
