Echinococcus Multilocularis – Screening ELISA Kit

Intended Use:
The Bordier Echinococcus multilocularis ELISA kit is intended for the quantitative detection of IgG antibodies against Echinococcus multilocularis in human serum. Serology is an aid for diagnosis and cannot be used as the sole method of diagnosis.

Background:
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis, a tapeworm found in foxes, coyotes, dogs and some other canids. Humans can be infected by accidentally ingesting tapeworm eggs upon contaminated food or water. The larval forms of E. multilocularis do not fully mature into fertil cysts in humans, but continuous proliferation of vesicles that invade and destroy surrounding tissues will cause, in a tumor-like manner, liver disfunction. The parasite can spread into other organs such as the lungs and brain. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, asthenia, hepatomegaly and jaundice. Diagnosis is based on imaging techniques such as CT scans to visually detect parasitic masses and respective diffuse cyst-like structures. Serologic tests are used for screening populations at risk, and for follow-up AE patients after treatment.

Principle and Presentation:
The kit provides all the material needed to perform 96 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) on breakable microtitration wells sensitized with Echinococcus multilocularis Em2-Em18 antigens. Specific antibodies in the sample will bind to these antigens and washing will remove unspecific antibodies. The presence of parasite specific antibodies is detected with a Protein A – alkaline phosphatase conjugate. A second washing step will remove unbound conjugate. Revealing bound antibodies is made by the addition of pNPP substrate which turns yellow in the presence of alkaline phosphatase. Color intensity is proportional to the amount of Echinococcus multilocularis specific antibodies in the sample. Potassium phosphate is added to stop the reaction. Absorbance at 405 nm is read using an ELISA microplate reader.

The test can be performed with automatic systems, but this must be validated by the user.