Antibody activity in stick-ELISA as compared to other quantitative immunological tests in sera of echinococcosis cases.

Antibody activity in sera of 43 cases with cystic and 5 cases with alveolar echinococcosis was determined against hydatid fluid and extract of E. alveolaris. The results with Stick-ELISA were compared to those obtained with complement fixation and indirect hemagglutination. Results in ELISA were determined in stepless fashion and expressed as multiple of normal activity (MONA). Sensitivities of the different tests with reference to their respective ranges of nonrelevant activities were 95% in ELISA, 95% in indirect hemagglutination and 90% in complement fixation as determined with sera from cystic echinococcosis cases and their homologous antigen. Employing homologous and heterologous antigens, none of the three immunotests allowed the species specific diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis cases, whereas most cases of alveolar echinococcosis could be recognized by their predominant homologous antibody activity in ELISA and complement fixation.