Species-specific immunodiagnosis of human echinococcosis with crude antigens.

Crude soluble antigens were evaluated with indirect haemagglutination and ELISA for their specificity in the immunodiagnosis of alveolar and cystic echinococcosis. Using a combination of heterologous crude antigens, the ELISA method made a correct species-specific diagnosis in 96.3% of the patients. These results are similar to those obtained by immunodiagnosis with purified antigens.