[Immunoenzymatic test (ELISA) in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis: study of various antigenic extracts in the detection of IgG antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples].

Five different antigens from Cysticercus cellulosae, a vesicular fluid, a saline and an alkaline total extracts, an escolex and membrane, were studied in the ELISA immunoenzymatic assay to demonstrate IgG antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples. For the 5 antigens the 20 micrograms/ml concentration was selected for polyvinyl plates sensitization for CSF and serum assays. The IgG fraction of a sheep anti-human IgG antiserum was labeled with horseradish peroxidase and revealed with hydrogen peroxide-5-aminosalicilic acid. For positive results 10 ELISA Units for sera and 5 EU for CSF were taken. A total of 182 serum samples and 115 CSF samples were tested. The ELISA sensitivity for sera were 88.6% for vesicular fluid, escolex and membrane; 85.7% for saline extract and 62.8% for alkaline extract. The ELISA sensitivity for CSF was 100% for vesicular fluid and saline total extract, 91.7% for membrane, 89.6% for excolex and 77.1% for alkaline. The ELISA specificity for sera was 100% to the 5 antigens studied; to the CSF was 100% for the alkaline and escolex and 98.5% for the other antigens. An ELISA geometric mean titer of sera and CSF was respectively the 121.1 and 27.3 for vesicular fluid, 111.6 and 31.1 for saline total extract, 30.3 and 5.3 for alkaline total extract, 63.2 and 14.8 for escolex and 69.1 and 18.8 for membrane antigen. ELISA was then compared to immunofluorescence, hemagglutination and complement fixation tests in CSF and sera. ELISA immunoenzymatic assay with saline total extract is recommended for the easy preparation and for the high quantity of antigens obtained, for the high sensitivity and great specificity for sera and CSF; we suggest that this test may be used as a substitute for immunofluorescence, hemagglutination and complement fixation in sera or CSF for the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.