Article
A contribution to the diagnosis of Capillaria hepatica infection by indirect immunofluorescence test.
Registro en:
ASSIS, B.C. et al. A contribution to the diagnosis of Capillaria hepatica infection by indirect immunofluorescence test. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, v. 99, n. 2, p. 173-177, mar. 2004.
0074-0276
Autor
Assis, Bárbara Cristina Alves de
Cunha, Liliane Monteiro
Baptista, Ana Paula
Andrade, Zilton de Araújo
Resumen
A highly specific pattern of immunofluorescence was noted when sera from Capillaria hepatica-infected rats were
tested against the homologous worms and eggs present either in paraffin or cryostat sections from mouse liver. The
pattern was represented by a combined apple green fluorescence of the internal contents of worms and eggs, which
persisted in serum-dilutions of 1:400 up to 1:1600. Unequivocal fluorescent pattern was observed from 15 days up
to 3 months following inoculation of rats with embryonated C. hepatica eggs and such result was confirmed by the
ELISA. After the 4th month of infection, the indirect immunofluorescence test turned negative, probably revealing
the extinction of parasitism, however the ELISA was contradictory, disclosing high levels of antibodies in this
period . The IIF was also negative when control normal rat sera and sera from rats administered by gavage with
immature C. hepatica eggs (spurious infection), or for reactions made against Schistosoma mansoni eggs, although
a weakly positive pattern occurred with Fasciola hepatica eggs. The indirect immunofluorescence test may be
recommended for use with human sera to detect early C. hepatica infection in special clinical instances and in
epidemiological surveys, since it is a simple, inexpensive, and reliable test, presenting excellent sensitivity and
specificity. Although the diagnosis is positive only during early infection,