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Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis antigens in faeces by ELISA

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Abstract

Faecal samples deriving from 391 animals belonging to nine species (polecats, badgers, martens, weasels, rats, dogs, cats, red foxes, raccoon-dogs) were examined by capture ELISA for the presence of the Echinococcus multilocularis coproantigen. The main claim of our studies is the reliable detection of E. multilocularis coproantigens, mainly in the faeces of foxes, dogs and cats. For the first time in coproantigen detection we used a “double-sandwich” ELISA. The main advantage of this method is the higher specificity and better differentiation of positive and negative faecal samples, in comparison with sandwich ELISA. The overall specificity of double-sandwich ELISA was 95.1% with only 16 of 327 E. multilocularis-free animals giving false-positive results. The E. multilocularis coproantigen was detected by double-sandwich ELISA in 37.5% of examined red foxes and in 8.0% of examined raccoon-dogs, compared with a prevalence of just 29.8% in red foxes and 8.0% in raccoon-dogs, as determined by parasitological techniques.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Committee for Scientific Research, Poland, with grant number 5 PO6 K 025 17 (1999–2001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda str 51/55, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland

    B. Machnicka, E. Dziemian, B. Rocki & M. Kołodziej-Sobocińska

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  1. B. Machnicka
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  2. E. Dziemian
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  3. B. Rocki
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  4. M. Kołodziej-Sobocińska
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Correspondence to B. Machnicka.

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Machnicka, B., Dziemian, E., Rocki, B. et al. Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis antigens in faeces by ELISA. Parasitol Res 91, 491–496 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0994-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0994-3

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