Abstract
Bithynia funiculata snail antigens were partially purified by Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography. Four fractions of B. funiculata snail antigens were obtained-fraction 1 (F1), fraction 2 (F2), fraction 3 (F3) and fraction 4 (F4), which Fl was chosen for the study since this is the most abundant and most reactive fraction. Levels of antibodies in sera of 85 patients with opisthorchiosis, 15 normal healthy individuals and 72 patients with other helminthic infections were assayed against crude antigens from O.viverrini adult worms and the Fl fraction using the gelatin particle indirect agglutination test (GPAT).For both antigens, the mean reciprocal titer in the sera of opisthorchiosis patients was significantly higher than sera from patients with other helminthic infections and normal healthy individuals (p <0.0001). In an attempt to search for another antigen in place of 0. viverrini antigens for the serodiagnosis of opisthorchiosis, the sensitivity and specificity of the two antigens were compared. It was shown that differences in the sensitivity and specificity were not evident. This study indicates that antigens from 0. viverrini adult worms were the most suitable antigens for serodiagnosis of opisthorchiosis by GPAT despite being crude antigens. However, antigens from partially purified B. funiculata snails (Fl) should prove to be useful for serodiagnosis of this disease since large amounts of antigens can be obtained with relative ease.
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