Abstract BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of Echinococcus granulosus in the definitive host particularly in dog is the significant complication in the endemic area. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is serological detection of E. granulosus in the infected dogs. METHODS: Dot-ELISA based on the copro-antigen and recombinant EPC1 antigen (rEPC1) for antibody detection was performed. Blood and fecal samples ...

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of canine echinococcosis can be a challenge in surveillance studies because there is no perfect gold standard that can be used routinely. However, unknown test specificities and sensitivities can be overcome using latent-class analysis with appropriate data. METHODOLOGY We utilised a set of faecal and purge samples used previously to explore the epidemiology of canine...

BACKGROUND Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis is a parasitic infection occurring in many developing countries. Data on the status of human infections in Zambia is largely lacking. We conducted a community-based study in Eastern Zambia to determine the prevalence of human taeniosis and cysticercosis in a rural community. METHODS AND FINDINGS Stool and serum samples were collected from willi...

BACKGROUND The serology of amebiasis is affected by low sensitivity and specificity. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the advantage of the indirect hemagglutination assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis of amebiasis, using Entamoeba histolytica soluble antigen (macerated amebic antigens) prepared from four different virulent isolates, continuously cultivated in the presence of th...

In order to determine the sensitivity and reliability of antirotaviral fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) as an indicator of rotavirus reinfection, the antibody responses to rotavirus of 44 infants with severe rotavirus gastroenteritis recruited on admission to a hospital were studied. Feces were collected daily during hospitalization and weekly thereafter, and sera were obtained every 4 months, for ...

The relationship between urinary excretion of porphyrins, porphyrin precursors and total oestrogens in normal pregnancy was investigated. Significant increases in total oestrogen, delta-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) and coproporphyrin (COPRO) excretion were noted. However, no close correlation was found between total oestrogen excretion and urinary output of ALA and COPRO. The results suggest that...

BACKGROUND A number of studies document the prevalence of Taenia solium infections in Nigeria, yet these studies do not cover porcine cysticercosis in private home slaughter slabs where there is no routine meat inspection and backyard pig keeping, slaughtering and sale are common practice. METHODS An environmental and sanitary assessment was conducted within two unregistered home pig slaughte...

Rotavirus is the major cause of severe, dehydrating infantile gastroenteritis. Infection is limited to the gut, but the relative roles of serum and secretory copro-immunoglobulin A (IgA) in protection are unclear. Specific copro-IgA is predictive of duodenal antirotaviral IgA and correlates with virus-neutralizing coproantibody. Copro-IgA conversion is a more sensitive marker of rotavirus reinf...