Xth ICT, August 2000

Detection of coproantigen in early trichinellosis

¹ Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. Tel.: 03 5451360 - Fax : 03 5854508. e-mail : smhz@intouch.com

Abstract

Trichinellosis has become undoubtedly worldwide in distribution. Its diagnosis relies largely on the serodiagnostic procedures which are of great value but unfortunately miss the enteric phase. This could be a serious diagnostic problem in the absence of corresponding epidemiological data and typical symptoms and signs of the disease. In this study the possibility of coproantigen detection, as an early diagnostic aid in trichinellosis, was investigated in mice experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis.

A modified double sandwich ELISA was developed using polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits and guinea pigs against larval somatic antigens. The first detection of coproantigen was as early as the first day post infection, gradually increasing to reach its peak on the seventh day and then decreasing to disappear completely on the third week post infection. Another test, the co-agglutination test (Co-A) was used, and this test confirmed the previous results. The finding of this study suggest that the coproantigen detection could be exploited to confirm ongoing early Trichinella spiralis infection. This fast and easy to use diagnostic method should improve the early infection in human.