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SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS
The immunodiagnostic tests employed in diagnosis of parasitemia are, in general,
modifications of commonly used procedures. These procedures are complement fixation,
precipitation, hemagglutination, flocculation, and fluorescent antibody techniques.
Various types of immunodiagnostic tests and the present status of their applicability in a
variety of parasitic diseases are shown in table 2-1. Specimens collected for serological
diagnosis of parasites are taken as for other types of serologic tests. The serum should
never be inactivated.
INTRADERMAL COMPLEMENT
DISEASE
TEST
FIXATION
Ascariasis
I
I
E
E
Trichinosis
A
A
A
A
Toxocariasis
I
I
Cysticercosis
A
A
A
Echinococcosis
A
A
E
A
Schistosomiasis
E
A
A
I
E
Clonorchiasis
E
E
Paragonimiasis
E
A
Filariasis
E
E
Chagas Disease
I
A
I
I
Leishmaniasis
A
E
A
Toxoplasmosis
A
A
I
Amebiasis
E
I
Giardiasis
I
ENZYME-LINKED
INDIRECT
LATEX
FLUORESCENT
IMMUNOSORBANT
IMMUNO-
DISEASE
HEMAGGLUTINATION
FIXATION ANTIBODY
FLOURENCENSE ASSAY (ELISA)
Ascariasis
E
A
Trichinosis
E
Toxocariasis
I
A
Cysticercosis
A
Echinococcosis
A
Schistosomiasis
A
E
A
A
Clonorchiasis
E
Paragonimiasis
Filariasis
A
E
Chagas Disease
I
I
Leishmaniasis
Toxoplasmosis
E
I
A
E
Amebiasis
A
E
E
Giardiasis
I
E
A = Generally accepted, useful, routine diagnostic test.
E = Used for diagnosis but requires further evaluation for the routine use.
I = Under experimental investigation.
Table 2-1. Parasitic diseases and the appropriate serological tests available.
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