Evaluation of Fas2-ELISA for the serological detection of Fasciola hepatica infection in humans

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2007 May;76(5):977-82.

Abstract

The performance of Fas2-ELISA for the diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica infection in children living in areas of high endemicity for fascioliasis in the Peruvian Andes is analyzed. Fas2-ELISA is based on the detection of circulating IgG antibodies elicited in infected individuals against a F. hepatica antigen termed Fas2. The study was conducted in three Andean localities, Huertas-Julcan in Junin, Asillo in Puno, and Cajamarca, with a total population of 634 children in an age range 1 to 16 years old. Child fascioliasis prevalence was 21.1% in Huertas-Julcan, 25.4% in Asillo, and 24% in Cajamarca, estimated by coprological inspection. The seroprevalence of F. hepatica infection, determined by Fas2-ELISA, was 27.8% in Huertas-Julcan, 44.6% in Asillo, and 29.1% in Cajamarca. The overall sensitivity of Fas2-ELISA was 92.4%, the specificity 83.6%, and the negative predictive value 97.2%. No association between OD(450) Fas2-ELISA and infection intensity measured by egg counting was observed. Results show that Fas2-ELISA is a highly sensitive immunodiagnostic test for the detection of F. hepatica infection in children living in human fascioliasis endemic areas.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood*
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / standards
  • Fasciola hepatica / immunology*
  • Fascioliasis / diagnosis*
  • Fascioliasis / epidemiology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Helminthiasis / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Infant
  • Intestines / parasitology
  • Male
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Protozoan Infections / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Fas2 antigen, Fasciola hepatica