Detection of Antibodies against Hydatid Cyst Fluid Antigens Using Immunoblot Technique

Immunoblot is recognized as a sensitive and specific serological method for diagnosis of human hydatidosis. To analyze the reactivity of hydatid patients sera with the subunits of 2 major hydatid cyst fluid antigens, ( 5 and B ) immunoblot method was used. Material &

In this regard, 100 sera ,of which 40 sera from patients with surgically diagnosed hydatidosis, 20 sera from patients with parasitic disease other than hydatidosis, 20 sera from patients other than parasitic disease, and 20 sera from healthy controls were examined.

For 3 subunits of Ag B (12, 16, 20 kD) the sensitivities were 92.5%, 84.5% and 87.5% respectively and their specificity for all of the 3 subunits was 100%. For 2 subunits of Ag 5, (55, 65 kD) the sensitivity was 100% and the specificities were 100% and 90% respectively .

The results indicated that the best subunit for hydatidosis diagnosis is the 55 kD subunit of Ag 5. Meanwhile, a lower reactivity (84.5% of all hydatid sera) was observed with 16 kD subunits of Ag B.