Diagnosis of human opisthorchiasis
3
Issued Date
2001
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Suggested Citation
Natsuda Jamornthanyawat, นาถสุดา จามรธัญญวาท (2001). Diagnosis of human opisthorchiasis. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/63365
Title
Diagnosis of human opisthorchiasis
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Opisthorchiasis viverrini is a liver fluke infection causing a serious public health problem in Thailand, Laos,
Cambodia, and South Vietnam because it acts as a strong promoter of cholangiocarcinoma. The diagnosis of
human opisthorchiasis is based on four approaches due to clinical manifestations, parasitological, molecular
biological and serological methods, which still have problems. Clinical manifestations of the patients are practically
indistinguishable from those of other liver diseases. The features of the O. viverrini eggs using a light microscope as a
parasitological method are difficult to differentiate from the minute intestinal flukes' eggs. Molecuar biological methods,
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques are very complicated, expensive and time-consuming, although they are
highly sensitive and specific. PCR can detect a single egg an experimental animal faces and a test has been practice.
At present, their applications for the detection of human specimens have never been reported. Actually, serological
tests are a choice of these approaches; the techniques can possibly be developed for routine work and field or epidemiological
studies. Of these tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoelectrotransfer blot assay are the most published
serological tests in the detection of O. viverrini-specific antigens (coproantigens) and antibodies (IgM, IgG, IgA, or IgE antibodies).
The monoclonal antibodies are prepared to detect coproantigens in stool specimens while the crude somatic and excretory-secretory
antigens from the adult worms, metacercariae, eggs, and snail intermediate hosts are prepared to detect antibodies in sera.
The appropriate amount, type and efficacy of antigen and antibody preparations are considered to prevent the cross-reactions between parasites.
Advantages and disadvantages of the four diagnostic methods are discussed.
Description
Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting 2001: Century Pard Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand 8-10 August 2001: abstract. Bangkok: Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University; 2001. p.208.