[Comparison of two different enzyme immunoassays in the diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica infections]. / Fasciola hepatica enfeksiyonunun laboratuvar tanisinda iki farkli enzim immün yönteminin karsilastirilmasi.

In this study, the serum samples of 37 patients who were diagnosed as fascioliasis (=fasciolosis) by parasitologic, pathologic and/or radiographic methods, 51 patients who were previously infected with parasites other than Fasciola hepatica, and 31 healthy subjects, have been investigated for the presence of F. hepatica specific IgG antibodies with two different enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) methods. For this purpose, in-house DOT-ELISA and excretory-secretory (ES)-ELISA techniques have been performed by using F. hepatica ES antigens. All of the 37 fasciolosis patients found to be seropositive with ES-ELISA, while 36 were found positive with DOT-ELISA method. ES-ELISA method yielded 3 (5.9%) positive results for the patients with other parasitosis (2 toxocariasis, 1 hydatic cyst), and DOT-ELISA method gave positive results for 2 (3.9%) toxocariasis patients. In 31 healthy subjects, the seropositivity rates were detected as 3.2% and 16.1% for ES-ELISA and DOT-ELISA methods, respectively. As a result, the sensitivity and specificity of DOT-ELISA method were found as 97.3% and 93.3%, respectively, while these rates were 100% and 97.0% for ES-ELISA, respectively. The highest positive predictive value was detected for ES-ELISA (90.2%), while both of the methods showed high negative predictive values (100% for ES-ELISA, 99.1% for DOT-ELISA). In conclusion, ELISA methods would be useful especially for the laboratory diagnosis of fasciolosis, in the clinically suspected patients where the etiologic agent could not be identified.

Toxoplasmosis in last four years in Agean region, Turkey.

Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were determined with IFA and ELISA tests in 9410 patients who were different age groups, attended Department of Parasitology between 1991-1995. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were found positive in 4651 (49.4%) of these patients. 2287 (21.4%) patients were pregnant women and the positivity was 55% of them. According to history of these patients, seropositivity was found 50% in women having spontaneous abortion, 52% in women having stillbirth, in 55% women having abnormal fetal births. These patients and their culinary habits, the presence of cats and relationship with other clinical symptoms were also evaluated.