Enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for the detection of specific IgG antibodies to Toxocara canis ES antigens.

This paper reports the development of an enzyme-immunosorbent assay for the detection in human serum of specific IgG against excretory/secretory antigens of second stage Toxocara canis larvae. Similar tests have been already used in several countries for clinical and epidemiological purposes on human Toxocariasis and currently represent the only specific means for the serological diagnosis of this parasitic disease. Specificity and sensitivity have been proved and original data on the epidemiological setting of Toxocara infection in Northern Italy are given.