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Molecular Diagnostics and Genetics |
1 Department of Medical Technology, Fooyin University, 151 Chinhsuen Road, Ta-Liao Hsiang, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
Departments of2
MedicoGenomic Research Center and3
Parasitology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, ROC.
aAuthor for correspondence. Fax 886-7-3218309; e-mail Chmiye{at}cc.kmu.edu.tw.
Background: Definitive diagnosis of infestation with Angiostrongylus cantonensis is difficult because the parasitic nematode is undetectable in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of one-half of afflicted patients and the diagnostic sensitivity of ELISA for circulating worm antigens in patient sera is low. We studied immuno-PCR as a diagnostic tool.
Methods: We studied 30 controls and 60 afflicted patients (30 confirmed by parasitologic analysis of CSF). We used a monoclonal antibody to capture circulating A. cantonensis antigens in serum samples. A DNA label generated by PCR amplification with biotinylated primer was bound by use of streptavidin to a biotinylated third antibody. Circulating antigens sandwiched by monoclonal antibody were detected by PCR amplification of the DNA label.
Results: The detection limit of the ELISA was 1001000 times higher than that of the immuno-PCR. The concentrations of circulating antigens in patients were markedly higher than those in controls (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, P <0.001). At a cutoff of 0.1 ng/L, sensitivity and specificity for immunodiagnosis of patients with angiostrongyliasis by immuno-PCR were 98% (95% confidence interval, 9199%) and 100% (93100%), respectively. The test was positive in all parasitologically confirmed cases.
Conclusions: Immuno-PCR is a promising technique for diagnosis of A. cantonensis infestation.
The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:
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C. Graeff-Teixeira, A. C. A. da Silva, and K. Yoshimura Update on Eosinophilic Meningoencephalitis and Its Clinical Relevance Clin. Microbiol. Rev., April 1, 2009; 22(2): 322 - 348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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Y. Qvarnstrom, J. J. Sullivan, H. S. Bishop, R. Hollingsworth, and A. J. da Silva PCR-Based Detection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Tissue and Mucus Secretions from Molluscan Hosts Appl. Envir. Microbiol., March 1, 2007; 73(5): 1415 - 1419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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