Sero-immunological Investigation of Cystic Echinococcosis: Comparison and Evaluation of Diagnostic Performances of Six Hydatid Cyst Antigens

Abstract

This study compares and assesses the efficacy of various hydatid cyst antigens for the accurate immunological diagnosis of CE in both humans and camels. Outer layer (Ol.C) germinal layer (Gl.C) fluid (Fl.C) and protoscolices (Ps.C) antigens prepared from camel hydatid cyst. In addition, fluid (Fl.H) and protoscolices (Ps.H) prepared from human hydatid cyst aspirate. The all six antigen types investigated as immunodiagnostic tools in human and camel hydatidosis using ELISA, SDS-PAGE and western blot assays. ELISA sowed higher binding reactivity by protoscolices antigens (Ps.C and Ps.H) followed by fluid antigens (Fl.C and Fl.H), while outer and germinal layer antigens (Ol.C and Gl.C) give the lower activates. Ps.C antigen exhibiting higher sensitivity (100%), than Ps.H antigen (84.6 and 85.3%) against both positive camels and human sera. The sero-prevalence of Cystic echinococcosis was 59.78% and 43.65% in examined camel and human sera, respectively using the diagnostic Ps.C antigen. According to SDS-PAGE, all six hydatid cyst antigens demonstrated significant electrophoretic similarity, particularly in three bands of 42, 36, and 22 kDa, Using immunoblotting techniques, all separated antigens identified a sharing in two common bands with the same molecular weights of 42 a and 22 kDa. The obtained results concluded that camel and human hydatid cyst protoscolices antigens are introduced in this investigation as an effective diagnostic antigen and new immune-reactive fractions of 42 and 22 kDa for the diagnosis of hydatidosis in humans and camels.