Parasite-specific antibody profile in human fascioliasis: application for immunodiagnosis of infection. Am J Trop Med Hyg 61: 738

Abstract. The antibody isotype response to an adult Fasciola worm antigen preparation (FWAP) was examined in sera from 60 Egyptians with parasitologically confirmed fascioliasis by an ELISA. The FWAP-specific IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies were found in 97–100 % of the patients. The ratio of the mean absorbance values between infected patients and healthy controls was 9.7 and 29.7 for IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies, respectively. The IgM, IgA, IgG2, and IgG3 antibodies were less dominant. In contrast to IgG1 antibodies, which were often detected in sera from patients infected with Schistosoma, Echinococcus granulosus, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, or Hymenolepis nana, FWAP-specific IgG4 antibodies were detected exclusively in the sera of patients with fascioliasis. The data thus support the conclusion that an IgG4/ELISA with crude FWAP as antigen may be used for sensitive and accurate immunodiagnosis of human fascioliasis. Fascioliasis is essentially a disease of ruminants but is increasingly observed in humans in Egypt, the Middle East, Africa, South Europe, South America, Puerto Rico, Austra-lia, and China. The disease is due to infection with the meta-cercariae of Fasciola hepatica and/or F. gigantica. The fluke devastates the liver while dwelling in the bile ducts and gal