J Korean Med Sci.  2015 May;30(5):549-551. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.5.549.

Cross-reactivity of Toxocariasis with Crude Antigen of Toxascaris leonina Larvae by ELISA

• Jin Y
• Shen C
• Huh S
• Choi MH
• Hong ST

• KMID: 2155466
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.5.549

Abstract

Roundworms of Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina are common gastrointestinal helminths of canids over the world. Humans are infected with T. canis larvae through ingestion of infective eggs in contaminated environments or larvae by consumption of raw or uncooked meat or livers. Recently, patients of clinically diagnosed toxocariasis are increasing and require correct diagnosis in Korea. The present study investigated serological cross-reactivity between crude antigens of T. canis (TCLA) and T. leonina (TLLA) larvae. We collected serum specimens from 177 toxocariasis patients who were clinically suspected in the Seoul National University Hospital and 115 healthy controls. An ELISA method for toxocariasis was used to evaluate diagnostic efficacy of TLLA for serodiagnosis of human toxocariasis. The IgG ELISA using TLLA gave 14 (14.3%) positives of 98 TCLA positive specimens among 177 suspected toxocariasis patients. Most of them showed high absorbances with TCLA. In conclusion, there is a partial cross reaction between serum specimens of toxocariasis and TLLA.

Keyword

Toxocariasis; Toxocara canis; Toxascaris leonina; Larvae; Crude Antigen; Serodiagnosis; Serum IgG; Cross-reaction

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antibodies, Helminth/blood
Antigens, Helminth/*immunology
Cross Reactions
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Immunoglobulin G/blood
Larva/immunology/metabolism
Toxascaris/growth & development/*immunology/isolation & purification
Toxocara canis/growth & development/*immunology/isolation & purification
Toxocariasis/*diagnosis/parasitology
Antibodies, Helminth
Antigens, Helminth
Immunoglobulin G

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Distribution of ELISA absorbances of clinical toxocariasis and healthy control with TCLA and TLLA. TCLA, crude antigen of Toxocara canis larvae; TLLA, crude antigen of Toxascaris leonina. Horizontal bars represent the mean values.

• 

  Fig. 2 Correlation of ELISA absorbances between TCLA and TLLA. Data of total subjects (n = 292) were used for analysis. TCLA, crude antigen of Toxocara canis larvae; TLLA, crude antigen of Toxascaris leonina.

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