The Diagnosis of Human Pulmonary Hydatidosis by the Immunoelectrophoresis Test

Abstract

A specific and characteristic precipitation band appeared in immunoelectrophoresis tests with sera from hydatidosis patients, when fluid from either fertile or sterile bovine liver cysts of Echinococcus granulosus was used as antigen. No “false positives” were found using this test on sera from normal subjects and from patients with tuberculosis, aspergillosis, acute pneumonia, hepatic cirrhosis or pulmonary carcinoma. The immuno-electrophoresis test showed a higher sensitivity than the indirect hemagglutination test in the preoperative diagnosis of pulmonary hydatidosis in 54 patients whose infections were subsequently confirmed at surgery. It was possible to classify hydatid cysts into four categories based upon the physical integrity of cyst membranes observed at surgery and the histopathological response of the host. In individuals having recently broken cysts the immunoelectrophoresis test was uniformly positive whereas in those with only remnants or unbroken cysts, the proportion of positive reactors was markedly less. It is postulated that the physical status of the hydatid cyst membranes influences the degree of antigen stimulation of the immune system of the host and therefore affects the success or otherwise of immunodiagnostic tests.