Evaluation of Enzyme – Linked Immunosorbent Assay in the Diagnosis of Gnathostomiasis in Northeasterm Thailand

Abstract

The Enzyme - Link Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is one of the serologic tests for antibody level detection,it might be useful in the immunodiagnosis. We applied this test to four classified group of subject in upper northeasterm part of Thailand. Seven patients whom Gnathousma spinigerum larvae were recovered classified as group, The rest. 58 patients clinical suspected gnathostomiasis, group II. Fifty-one casese whom faeces revealed no any heiminth eggs and who are healthy, no history of consuming raw or insuffcient cooked meat were negative group “III- Group IV was 52 casese whom faeces only Opisthorchis eggs and no history of migratory swelling or similar symptoms like gnathostomiasis. The results of this study are: (1) There is statstical difference of optical density (OD) between group II and group III (p < 0.05), but no statistical difference of OD between group III and group IV (p > 0.05).(2) Sensitivity of this test is 42.9 % and the specificity is 98.03 % (3) Mean CD of group III (negative control group of northeastern population) is much difference from mean OD of health persons of Bangkok (negative control group of Bangkok)