Complement fixation and circumoval precipitin reactions for diagnosis and as tests of core in schistosomiasis
Tanaka, H.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 7(2): 176-179
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 193198 Document Number: 106689
The complement fixation (CF) test using the endpoint of 50% haemolysis is considered too complicated for most field surveys of schistosomiasis while the simplified technique using Kolmer's principle and microtitre plates is less sensitive. The circumoval precipitin reaction test using lyophilized eggs as antigen has varying sensitivity and specificity depending on the reading criteria and gave positive reactions in 97.3% of 148 egg-positives using plasma and 87.8% using diluted serum in a survey in Leyte, Philippines. The CF test was not sensitive to cure of 22 adults in New York treated with stibophen but antibody levels fell significantly in animals completely cured by niridazole. The circumoval precipitin reaction test can be used to detect complete cures of schistosomiasis using an index to quantify the percentage of reacting eggs and the strength of precipitation.