Evaluation of ELISA and RAST using purified antigens for diagnosis of hydatidosis.

Purified Echinococcus granulosus antigens have been used in ELISA and RAST to improve the serodiagnosis of hydatidosis. Results in ELISA confirm the interest of purified antigens for a specific diagnosis and the particular relevance of antigen 5. Antigen B has been shown to be relevant in RAST since the highest correlation was obtained between total IgE and antigen B-specific IgE. Moreover, no false positive were shown as using RAST with antigen B. Such a study has now to be extended at a large scale to appreciate the evolutivity of the disease.