The immunological diagnosis of human opisthorchiasis and the humoral immune response to opisthorchis infection in the hamster
Janechaiwat, J.; Tharavanij, S.; Vajrasthira, S.; Chaicumpa, W.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 63(8): 439-447
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 7430854 Document Number: 154274
The immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) test was used for the diagnosis of Opisthorchis viverrini infection in man and to follow the course of humoral immune response in hamsters experimentally infected with the liver fluke metacercariae. Five precipitating bands were observed and were designated A, B, C, D and E. Of 75 (76%) patients with opisthorchiasis 57 were positive with the presence in most cases of band A. The positive reaction was significantly higher in patients > 10,000 eggs/g feces than those excreting < 10,000 eggs/g feces (.chi.2 = 4.40, d.f. = 1, P = 0.036). The positive reaction was not related to the age group of the patients (.chi.2 = 6.201, d.f. = 3, P = 0.102). The IEP test was positive in 2 of 7 Laotian patients with Mekong schistosomiasis and 3 of 19 patients with gnathostomiasis. Of 11 healthy individuals residing in the endemic area with stool negative for Opisthorchis ova 6 gave positive IEP tests. Blood donors and patients with amoebic liver abscess, viral hepatitis, hookworm and malaria were negative. In experimental hamsters, precipating antibodies were detectable on day 30 onwards after the infection either by 50 or 100 metacercariae. There were 4 precipitating bands, A, B, C and D. Bands A and C was related to the infective doses and the time after infection.