Paraffin embedded "Echinococcus granulosus" protoscoleces as suitable antigen in the indirect immunofluorescence test for human hydatid disease.

The employment of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces embedded in paraffin as antigen for the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test for human hydatid disease is described. An evaluation of its sensitivity and specificity is made studying 108 pre-operative sera from surgically confirmed hydatidosis and 91 control sera. Using the positivity criterion based on the serological reactivity at which minimum cross-reactivity was observed, the IIF test showed an overall sensitivity of 83.3% and 2.2% of cross-reactions. No differences in sensitivity between sera from hepatic and pulmonary hydatidosis was observed. The advantages of the method are pointed out.