Preliminary study of a prototype fatty acid and retinal binding peptide epitope for Strongyloides stercoralis antibody detection

Abstract

Context: Laboratory diagnosis of strongyloidiasis is most often based on the detection of antibodies against antigens in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Aims: The aim of the study was to validate the efficacy of the B-cell epitope peptide antigens of fatty acid and retinal binding protein in using antibodies against Strongyloides stercoralis. Settings and Design: Patient samples were identified by an anonymous code and collected from volunteers at Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Thailand. Subjects and Methods: The synthesized peptides and cell lysate of Strongyloides ratti were used as antigens in an in-house ELISA format. A total of 78 serum samples were collected from patients infected with S. stercoralis, other parasites, and healthy persons. Statistical Analysis Used: The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the diagnostic performance of peptide antigens and analysis of variance was utilized to examine differences in peptide reactivity between groups. Results: The peptide-1 and cell lysate of S. ratti could clearly differentiate serums among infected and noninfected groups. The peptide-1, peptide-2 of S. stercoralis, and lysate of S. ratti antigen had been measured to reveal sensitivities at about 75.00%, 50.00%, and 75.00% with 75.86%, 86.21%, and 89.66% specificities, respectively. Conclusions: These results could be useful for routine clinical laboratory diagnostic testing and possibly apply for surveillance investigations in the future.