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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2000, p. 2972-2974, Vol. 38, No. 8
0095-1137/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Urinary Hydatid Antigen Detection by Coagglutination, a Cost-Effective and Rapid Test for Diagnosis of Cystic Echinococcosis in a Rural or Field Setting

P. T. Ravinder,1 S. C. Parija,1,* and K. S. V. K. Subba Rao2

Departments of Microbiology1 and Cardio-Thoracic Surgery,2 Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India

Received 20 January 2000/Returned for modification 22 April 2000/Accepted 28 May 2000

We describe here coagglutination (Co-A), a rapid slide agglutination test for the detection of hydatid antigen in the urine for the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE). Paired urine and serum samples were collected from 16 patients with surgically confirmed CE, 10 patients with ultrasound-proven CE, 14 patients with clinically diagnosed CE, 24 patients with various parasitic diseases other than CE, and 25 healthy control subjects. Co-A detected excreted hydatid antigen in the concentrated urine of 7 of 16 (43.75%) surgically confirmed cases, 6 of 10 (60%) ultrasound-proven cases, and 8 of 14 (57.14%) clinically diagnosed cases of CE. A false-positive reaction was observed with 12.50% of control urine specimens from patients with parasitic diseases other than CE and 12% of urine samples from healthy controls. The circulating antigen was detected in the serum in 13 of 16 (81.25%) surgically confirmed cases, 6 of 10 (60%) ultrasound-proven cases, and 13 of 14 (92.86%) clinically diagnosed cases of CE. False-positive reactions were observed with three sera (12.5%) from controls with other parasitic diseases. The low sensitivity of Co-A for detection of antigen in the urine of a patient whose serum was positive for the antigen is possibly due to low levels of antigen in the urine. Unlike the collection of blood for serum, which is an invasive procedure and also requires technical expertise and disposable syringes, urine can be collected easily and frequently without causing any inconvenience to the patient. Urine as a clinical specimen alternative to serum would be immensely useful in the diagnosis of CE, particularly in a rural or field setting. In such situations as well as in poorly equipped laboratories, Co-A has the potential to be used as a simple, rapid, and economical slide agglutination test for detection of urinary hydatid antigen in the diagnosis of CE.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605 006, India. Phone: 91 413 253016. Fax: 91 413 372067. E-mail: parijasc{at}vsnl.com.


Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2000, p. 2972-2974, Vol. 38, No. 8
0095-1137/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.