COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON IMMUNODIAGNOSIS OF FILARIASIS

Abstract

Four serological methods were evaluated for the immunodiagnosis of filarial infections in European patients returning from endemic areas. The highest sensitivity was found by immunoelectrophoresis (73%), followed by the indirect fluorescence antibody test (60%) and the indirect hemagglutination (57%). The reliability of 2-dimensional gel diffusion was rather low (41%). Using immunofluorescence and hemagglutination procedures simultaneously, 83% of all pathologic filarial infections were detectable. By adding an immunoelectrophoretic analysis to those sera which gave doubtful results, a final sensitivity of 88% was attained.