Watthanakulpanich, DWaikagul, JAnantaphruti, M TDekumyoy, P2009-05-272009-05-271997-09-30Watthanakulpanich D, Waikagul J, Anantaphruti MT, Dekumyoy P. Evaluation of Bithynia funiculata snail antigens by ELISA-serodiagnosis of human opisthorchiasis. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 1997 Sep; 28(3): 593-8http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/35984The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health.Four batches of crude somatic antigens from: (1) Opisthorchis viverrini adult worms, (2) Bithynia funiculata-whole body, (3) B. funiculata-head-foot, and (4) B. funiculata-visceral mass were assayed against sera from 81 opisthorchiasis patients, 30 parasite-free healthy individuals, and 50 individuals infected with other helminthic infections, and their antibody levels determined. By IgG-ELISA, the antigenic reactive proteins were found in both the head-foot and the visceral mass of B. funiculata snails, but the whole snail antigens gave the best results. Furthermore, it was as good as when O. viverini antigens were used. Antibody levels of sera from patients with opisthorchiasis assayed against antigens from whole B. funiculata snails were significantly higher than those of the other two groups. The cut-off value for positivity at 0.228 gave 80.2% sensitivity and 81.2% specificity. Cross reactions were observed with sera from patients with paragonimiasis and strongyloidiasis. No cross reactions were found to occur with sera from healthy individuals.engAnimalsAntigens, Helminth --analysisCase-Control StudiesCross ReactionsEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay --methodsHumansImmunoglobulin G --analysisOpisthorchiasis --diagnosisReproducibility of ResultsSensitivity and SpecificitySnails --immunologyJournal Article