[Application of improved western blot method in diagnosis of cysticercosis].

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic value of four specific antigens from cDNA of Cysticercus cellulosae. cC1, cC2, and cP1 and cH1 (28 kDa, 18 kDa, 14 kDa and 34 kDa), mixing in equal proportions for the diagnosis of cysticercosis.

METHODS

Taking the FP (fusion proteins) as antigen to make IWB (improved Western blot) analysis basing on the detection of antibody responses against FP, and making ELISA/IHA-crude antigen(CA) analysis. They were evaluated comparatively while using 107 infected sera of cysticercosis cases, 40 infected sera of clonorchiasis cases, 24 infected sera of echinococcosis cases and 34 sera of healthy persons. The FP are encoded by cDNAs of beta-galactosidase-specific antigens of Cysticercus cellulosae isolated from the cDNA library.

RESULTS

94(87.9%) sera from 107 cysticercosis cases recognized FP in IWB and could not cross-react with the sera of echinococcosis cases, clonorchiasis cases and healthy persons, the specific rates were 100%, whereas ELISA, IHA using CA were 84.1% and 74.8%, respectively and could cross-react with the sera of echinococcosis cases, the false positive rates were 2.5% and 12.5% respectively; CA-ELISA/IHA could cross-react with the sera of clonorchiasis patients, the false positive rates were 8.3% and 16.7%, respectively; and they could also cross-react with the sera of healthy persons, the false positive rates were 8.8% and 11.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The recombinant FP used in the immunodiagnosis of cysticercosis is specific and sensitive.