Hydatid cyst fluid antigen-ELISA (HCF-Ag-ELISA) and conventional echinococcosis IRA assay were
assessed as a serologic prescreening test for cystic hydatid disease infection (CHD), confirmed by HCFAg
immunoblotting assay. The sensitivity of the screening tests was 94.4% and 83.3% for HCF-Ag-
ELISA and IRA, respectively. HCF-Ag-ELISA show some cross-reaction in tumor cases (5.5%), but no
cross-reaction was observed in Rheumatoid arthritis patients. IHA show 100% specificity. To confirm
this data SDS-PAGE immunoblotting using HCF-Ag was applied. An Echinococcus specific reactions
were demonstrated with 44Kda, 34Kda, 29Kda and 8Kda HCF-Ag resolved bands. However, crossreaction
was found with 27Kda, 2IKda, 16Kda and 13Kda bands in tumor patients. Moreover, crossreaction
was found with 200Kda, 175 Kda, 62Kda, 52 Kda and 40Kda in serological anti-schisiosoma
antibodies positive cases. Thus using the above-mentioned specific HCF-Ag components,
immunoblotting provided 100% sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of CHD.
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