DIG-ELISA test in onchocerciasis. Serum antibodies and probability of infection
Gomez-Priego, A.; Cruz-Gutierrez, L.E.; Paniagua-Solis, J.F.; Ruenes-Meza, M.T.
Archives of Medical Research 24(4): 353-359
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0188-4409 PMID: 8118159 Document Number: 410815
An immunoenzymatic test (DIG-ELISA) was serologically evaluated for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis. Control and infected sera from an endemic area of Mexico were submitted to the DIG-ELISA assay using a crude extract prepared from Onchocerca volvulus adult worms which had been preserved in 67% glycerol. The test showed a 100% sensitivity with sera from 38 carriers of microfilariae and 96% specificity with sera from 133 uninfected individuals living outside the endemic area. In addition, seropositivity was 52.9% with samples from uninfected individuals from the endemic area. For patients with clinical symptoms and subcutaneous nodules, 82.5 and 90.5% of sera were positive, respectively. A high rate of cross-reactivity with sera from individuals infected with Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia timori was also obtained. These results suggested that DIG-ELISA may be a useful serological test for antibody detection in onchocerciasis. However, because of the high cross-reactivity, the authors suggested that it could only be usefully employed in areas where W. bancrofti or B. timori do not occur.