Echinococcus Granulosus ELISA Kit

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

Background:
Cystic echinocccosis, also known as hydatid disease, is caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, a tapeworm found in dogs. Sheep, cattle, goats, and pigs as intermediate hosts harbor hydatid cysts mainly in liver and lungs. Humans can be infected by accidentally ingesting tapeworm eggs upon contaminated soil, food or water. The parasite larvae subsequently develop into hydatid cysts mainly in the liver and lungs as well. The main symptoms appear when hydatid cysts grow large enough to cause organ dysfunction plus discomfort, pain, nausea, and vomiting. Diagnosis is based on imaging techniques, such as CT scans, ultrasonography, and MRIs to detect the presence of well-delineated cyst(s) in a person with a history of exposure and a positive result by serological testing.

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 granulosus hydatid fluid antigen. 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 granulosus 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.