Abstract
The effects of destruction of carbohydrate moieties of Echinococcus granulosus antigen by sodium periodate treatment, and/or blocking phosphorylcholine specific antibodies by the addition of free reagent, were investigated to improve sensitivity and specificity of enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for diagnosis of hydatid disease. Sera were collected, in Uruguay and Sweden, from patients with confirmed hydatidosis, non-hydatid tapeworm infections, other disorders, and healthy donors. ELISA performed with sodium periodate or free phosphorylcholine increased sensitivity, but decreased specificity. Western blot analysis showed reduced recognition of the 38 kDa antigen following both treatments, and of the 15.5 kDa antigen after periodate treatment. Addition of free phosphorylcholine enhanced the recognition of two antigens, 26 and 50 kDa, which may represent new cross-reacting epitopes.
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