EVALUATION OF THE ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNO-ELECTRO TRANSFER BLOT (EITB) TECHNIQUE USING HYDATID CYST ANTIGENS B/5 AND TOTAL IgG ANTIBODIES IN LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF HUMAN HYDATIDOSIS

Objective: To evaluate the validity of the Enzyme-linked Immuno-electro Transfer Blot (EITB) technique to diagnose human hydatidosis using sheep hydatid fluid antigens and human sera infected with hydatidosis. Design: After preparing parasite antigen from sheep hydatid cyst fluid, all collected human sera infected with hydatidosis and other parasitic diseases as well as normal individuals, were analyzed by EITB test to evaluate its validity in diagnosing of hydatidosis. Setting: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Subjects: Seventy patients infected with hydatidosis confirmed by surgery, 15 with fasciolosis, 10 with toxocariasis, 15 with strongyloidiasis, 5 with amoebiasis, 10 with trichostrongylosis and 30 normal controls. Main Outcome Measures: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of EITB test. Result: Using total IgG antibody isotype, the sensitivity, specificity, positive & negative predictive values were 95%, 88.5%, 86.4%, 95.5 % 97.3%, 64.8%, 60.3% & 97.7% for antigens B&5 respectively. The total IgG antibodies in hydatidosis patients documented the parasite AgB subunits i.e 12, 16, 23 kDa, also larger subunit of Ag5, namely 39 kDa. Conclusion: The study showed that although, EITB method was a time consuming test, but due to high validity could be considered as an authentic technique, especially when the diagnosis is vague and time is not imperative. Source of funding: VicChancellery for Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Conflicts of interest: No Conflicts of interest exists.