This work was designed to study the applicability of enzyme linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on buffer eluates of capillary blood spotted
on filter papers for the diagnosis of human fasciotiasis and to study the
parasite-specific antibody profile in such infection. The relative concentrations
of IgM and IgG antibodies to excretory-secretory (E/S) Fasciola antigen
were evaluated by means of ELISA in paired samples of venous sera
and buffer-eluates of capillary blood drops dried on filter papers. Samples
were obtained from parasitologically positive. 25 cases of fascioliasis.
Levels of either IgM or IgG specific antibody were consistent in paired
samples of blood eluates and sera. without any significant difference.
Storage of dried blood on filter papers for up to 4 weeks (at 4 Co) did not
alter the antibody levels as compaired to paired venous blood sera, kept
at - 70C°. Anti-E/ S Fasciola antigen IgM and IgG antibodies were found
in 100% of the patients and were abundant, while the parasite - specific
IgA and IgE antibodies were found in 32% and 40% respectively of the
patients and were less dominant The data thus support the conclusion
that ELISA detection of specific IgM and / or IgG antibody response to E/
S Fasciola antigen is more valuable in serodiagnosis of fascioliasis than
the detection of IgA or IgE specific-antibody response. The use of ELISA
on filter paper blood eluates can be an alternative valuable epidimiological
tool for seroepiclimiological study on fieldwork diagnosis of fascioliasis. |
