An enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay for diagnosis of human cystic echinococcosis.

An enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) test was assessed for diagnosis of 47 pulmonary cystic echinococcosis (CE) cases admitted to Ain Shams University Hospitals for Surgery. Diagnosis of these cases was established on clinical examination, X-ray, sonography and indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test, which was negative in four cases (sensitivity 91.5%). Sera from patients with other parasitic infections, carcinomas or normal sera were used as controls. Human and Camel hydatid cyst fluids were used as antigens after separation and characterization of their antigenic components using 12.5% SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Six molecular weight antigens with molecular masses approximately 7, 20, 28, 35 and 127 kDa were of diagnostic importance. They were strongly recognized by sera of all CE patients specially with camel hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) giving a 100% sensitivity to the EITB test. Sera of patients with other parasitic infections as well as carcinomas and normal control sera couldn't recognize any of the above antigens and therefore were negative for the test. This results in 100% specificity of the EITB test. These data support the concept that EITB using camel hydatid fluid is a good diagnostic test for cystic echinococcosis.