Assessment of a serological test for the detection of Echinococcus granulosus infection in dogs in Kenya

Abstract

Specific diagnosis of Echinococcus granulosus infection in dogs has played a significant role in implementing hydatid control programs. Most programs have relied on purging dogs with arecoline hydrobromide and examining purge samples for worms to diagnose infection. This technique is time consuming and suffers from limitations including poor sensitivity, particularly in dogs with light infections, risk of hydatid infection to control personnel and severe side-effects of the arecoline in some dogs. Also, availability of praziquantel in several countries has further limited the value of the technique as owners can treat their dogs to eliminate worms prior to presenting them for purging. Application of a simple and sensitive immunological or serological detection system would overcome these problems and be a useful adjunct in control programs. Reports have described alternative techniques which show promise for accurate diagnosis of E. granulosus infection in the definitive host (Jenkins and Rickard, 1985, 1986; Craig et al., 1988). Recently, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using E. granulosus protoscolex antigen was developed (Gasser et al., 1988), and its sensitivity was higher than the level achieved in studies using arecoline testing (Gemmell, 1968; Trejos et al., 1975). The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of the ELISA in an endemic area of Kenya for detecting dogs with E. granulosus infection, and comparing serological data with parasitological data obtained from the dogs by necropsy. Dogs shot in north-western Turkana (Oropoi, Nanam, Lokichoggio, Lakankai,