RAPID DETECTION OF CIRCULATING ANTIGENS IN SERA OF PATIENTS WITH SCHISTOSOMIASIS USING DIGFA

Aim To develop an accurate,simple and rapid assay for diagnosis of schistosomiasis Methods Based on the DIGFA developed by our laboratory for examination of antibodies to Schistosoma japonicum,sandwich DIGFA was developed for detection of circulating antigens in sera of patients with schistosomiasis using rabbit against recombinant protein SVLBP PcAb as capturing antibody in this study Results All of 30 sera from patients with acute schistosomiasis showed positive reaction while 20 of 38(52 6%)sera from chronic schistosomiasis were positive by Sandwich DIGFA 120 sera from normal population in epidemic area and 50 sera from non-epidemic area showed negative results The rate of cross reaction with the sera of patients with para gonimiasis was 6 7%(1/15),there being none cross reaction with sera from patients with clonorchiasis Sandwich DIGFA showed similar sensitivity as parallel testing by sandwich ELISA(P0 05),with 97 4% coincidence Conclusion Sandwich DIGFA were not only simple and rapid but also sensitive and specific for detection of circulating antigens of Schistosoma japonicum in sera using recombinant protein SVLBP It will be a practical assay for diagnosis of schistosomiasis in the near future