PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Turner, P
AU  - Lalloo, K
AU  - Bligh, J
AU  - Armstrong, M
AU  - Whitty, C J M
AU  - Doenhoff, M J
AU  - Chiodini, P L
TI  - Serological speciation of human schistosome infections by ELISA with a panel of three antigens
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.2003.014779
DP  - 2004 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 1193--1196
VI  - 57
IP  - 11
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/57/11/1193.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/57/11/1193.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2004 Nov 01; 57
AB  - Aims: To find out whether serology can reliably speciate human schistosomiasis using a simple enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Methods: Stored sera from 66 patients with microscopically confirmed schistosomiasis were subjected to ELISA using a panel of three antigens, namely: unfractionated Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA); CEF6, a cationic fraction of SEA; and crude S margrebowiei egg antigen, prepared from an animal schistosome closely related to S haematobium. Results: The optical densities (ODs) obtained using CEF6 as antigen were significantly higher in sera from S mansoni infected patients than in sera from S haematobium infected patients (median OD, 0.810 v 0.595). Using S margrebowiei egg antigen, the optical densities were significantly higher in S haematobium sera than in S mansoni sera (median OD, 0.794 v 0.544). There was no significant difference in optical densities between S mansoni and S haematobium sera using SEA (median OD, 0.725 v 0.737). The ratio of ODs (CEF6 to S margrebowiei egg antigen) was calculated: a ratio of >1 indicated S mansoni infection (sensitivity, 88%) and a ratio of <1 indicated S haematobium infection (sensitivity, 84%). The odds ratio for S haematobium having an OD ratio of <1 was 36.8 (95% confidence interval, 7.0 to 194). Conclusions: The identity of the infecting species of schistosome can be determined using the panel of antigens described. SEA should be used to screen serum samples, and the CEF6 : S margrebowiei egg antigen ELISA optical density ratio can be used where serological speciation is required.