THE DIAGNOSIS OF ECHINOCOCCUS (HYDATID) DISEASE

Abstract

Echinococcus disease has never been common in the United States, and the case incidence has decreased considerably since the restriction of immigration in 1924. Nevertheless, this relatively rare disorder continues to be seen with sufficient frequency to warrant consideration, particularly since diagnosis by the usual clinical and laboratory procedures is almost always difficult and uncertain. The diagnosis of echinococcus disease may be greatly facilitated by employing immunologic procedures such as the cutaneous test described by Casoni¹ or the complement fixation reaction of Ghedini² and Weinberg.³ Neither of these important diagnostic aids has, however, been used to any great extent in this country for the reason that hydatid fluid, which is used as the antigen, is generally unavailable. In the present report some of the salient features of echinococcus disease are reviewed, and readily available antigens are described which may be substituted for hydatid fluid in performing the