Dot immunogold filtration assay (DIGFA) for the rapid detection of specific antibodies against the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea) using purified 31-kDa antigen. Issue 4 (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eamsobhana, P.; Gan, X.X.; Ma, A.; Wang, Y.; Wanachiwanawin, D.; Yong, H.S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of helminthology. Volume 88:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 396
• Page End: 401
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Helminthology -- Periodicals; 592.3
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X13000321
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-149X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>A rapid dot immunogold filtration assay (DIGFA) was adopted for specific immunodiagnosis of human cerebral angiostrongyliasis, using purified 31-kDa glycoprotein specific to <italic>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</italic> as diagnostic antigen and protein A colloidal gold conjugate as antigen–antibody detector. A total of 59 serum samples were assayed – 11 samples from clinically diagnosed patients with detectable <italic>A. cantonensis</italic>-specific antibody in immunoblotting; 23 samples from patients with other related parasitic diseases, i.e. gnathostomiasis (<italic>n</italic>= 8), cysticercosis (<italic>n</italic>= 5), toxocariasis (<italic>n</italic>= 2), filariasis (<italic>n</italic>= 4), paragonimiasis (<italic>n</italic>= 2) and malaria (<italic>n</italic>= 2); and 25 samples from normal healthy subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of DIGFA to detect anti-<italic>A. cantonensis</italic> specific antibodies in serologically confirmed angiostrongyliasis cases, were both 100%. No positive DIGFA was observed in cases with other parasitic diseases, and the healthy control subjects. The 3-min DIGFA is as sensitive and specific as the 3-h immunoblot test in angiostrongyliasis confirmed cases that revealed a 31-kDa reactive band. The gold-based DIGFA is more rapid and easier to perform than the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The test utilizing purified <italic>A</italic>. <italic>cantonensis</italic> antigen is reliable and reproducible for specific immunodiagnosis of human infection with <italic>A. cantonensis</italic> – thus can be applied as an additional routine test for clinical diagnostic support. Large-scale sero-epidemiological studies in endemic communities in north-east Thailand are under way to evaluate its usefulness under field conditions.</p> </abstract>