RAST and ELISA in three autochthonous parasitic infections in Italy: toxocariasis, hydatidosis and fascioliasis.

Toxocariasis, Hydatidosis and Fascioliasis are common autochthonous parasitic infections in Italy. RAST and ELISA have been evaluated for serological diagnosis. Eight sera from Toxocariasis, fifty from Hydatidosis and two from Fascioliasis have been examined. Excretory/secretory antigen has been employed for the serology of Toxocariasis, hydatic fluid for Hydatidosis and embryonated-eggs antigen for Fascioliasis. The RAST resulted positive in 4/5 cases of the visceral form of Toxocariasis and 3/3 in the ocular form, in 2/2 cases of Fascioliasis and 27/50 of Hydatidosis. The ELISA resulted positive respectively in 5/5, 3/3, 2/2, and 19/50 cases. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests employed have been proved.