Immunodiagnostic potential of Wuchereria bancrofti L1 antigen-based filarial immunoglobulin G4 detection assay.

BACKGROUND: After mass drug administration to eliminate human lymphatic filariasis, there is a need for surveillance to detect the measurable endpoint of the program.

METHODS: An immunodominant seroreactive clone, WbL1, was identified through immunoscreening of a Wuchereria bancrofti L3 complementary DNA expression library. Recombinant WbL1 (rWbL1) was analysed with sera from W. bancrofti patients. Diagnostic evaluation was carried out by developing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the filarial-specific antibodies in various categories of filarial sera samples against recombinant WbL1 (rWbL1) protein.

RESULTS: Performance parameters of the test in terms of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG4 detection displayed significant sensitivity and specificity values up to 77% and 100%, respectively. Our results showed filarial antibodies against rWbL1 to be highly reactive with microfilaremic and clinical filarial sera samples compared with the endemic and non-endemic control sera samples. Reasonably satisfactory performance of the test was also confirmed from the multicentric evaluation of an anti-WbL1 IgG4 detection ELISA. This test was found to be minimally reactive with other nematode parasites and protozoan infections.

CONCLUSIONS: The anti-WbL1 IgG4 detection test can be considered as a field test for initial screening and epidemiological monitoring of filarial infections in filariasis-endemic areas.