Use of heterologous antigens for the immunodiagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract

Angiostrongylus costaricensis has a broad geographic distribution spanning from North to South America and the infections of vertebrates with this nematode can result in abdominal complications. Human infections are diagnosed by histological or serological methods because the isolation of larvae from feces is not feasible, as most parasites become trapped in intestinal tissues due to intense eosinophilic inflammation. Because A. costaricensis is difficult to maintain in the laboratory, an immunodiagnostic IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antigens from the congeneric Angiostrongylus cantonensis species was evaluated against a panel of serum samples from patients who were histologically diagnosed with A. costaricensis infections. Sera from uninfected individuals and individuals infected with other parasites were used as controls. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were estimated at 88.4% and 78.7%, respectively. Because the use of purified or cloned antigens has not been established as a reliable diagnostic tool, the use of heterologous antigens may provide a viable alternative for the development of an ELISA-based immunodetection system for the diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis

The 31-kDa Antigen of Angiostrongylus cantonensis Comprises Distinct Antigenic Glycoproteins

“…This approach has also been utilized in the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis, since A. cantonensis and A. costaricensis possess cross-reactive antigens that can be used to diagnose infections with either pathogen (Dekumyoy et al 2000;Ben et al 2010). Since A. cantonensis is more easily maintained in the laboratory, proteins from this nematode may be used to identify antigenic targets with potential for use in the diagnosis of infections with either pathogen.…”

Proteolytic activity in the adult and larval stages of the human roundworm parasite Angiostrongylus costaricensis

“…This parasitic disease has been reported throughout Central and South America (Morera & Cespedes 1971, Incani et al 2007, Palominos et al 2008. In endemic areas, such as the southern region of Brazil, epidemiological and clinical features are used as diagnostic indications of AA (Agostini et al 1983, 1984, Ayala 1987, Graeff-Teixeira et al 1991, Bender et al 2003, Mesen-Ramirez et al 2008, Ben et al 2010, Abrahams-Sandi et al 2011. However, AA is a disease with unspecified clinical manifestations.…”

Angiostrongylus costaricensisinfection in Martinique, Lesser Antilles, from 2000 to 2017

“…In the absence of parasites, histopathological findings can help the diagnosis when they show granulomatous reactions with massive eosinophilic and giant cell infiltration in the intestinal wall and regional lymph nodes and/or eosinophilic vasculitis of arteries, veins, and lymph vessels [ 19 ]. In subclinical forms not requiring laparotomy or surgery, diagnosis may be established when IgG anti-crude adult worm antigens are found by ELISA-based serological analysis, but such analyses are available in only a few laboratories worldwide [ 1 , 3 , 15 , 48 , 67 ]. Serodiagnosis of A. costaricensis is somewhat unsatisfactory because of cross-reactions with A. cantonensis, Strongyloides stercoralis , and Gnathostoma spinigerum [ 47 ].…”