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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2000, p. 2972-2974, Vol. 38, No. 8
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.
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
*
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.
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