Quantitative determination of circulating anodic and cathodic antigens in serum and urine of individuals infected with Schistosoma intercalatum

Abstract

Circulating anodic and cathodic Schistosoma antigens (CAA and CCA) have been determined by enzyme immunoassays in serum and urine of 60 individuals infected with S. intercalatum in Equatorial Guinea. The median egg output was 29 eggs/g of faeces (range 3-840). The egg output strongly correlated with concentrations of serum CAA (p = 0.47) and urine CAA (p = 0.42) (P < 0.001 for both); the later 2 quantities were also correlated with each other (p = 0.44, P < 0.001). All except 3 infected individuals had detectable amounts of serum CAA and/or urine CCA, a sensitivity of 95% for these 2 tests combined. Urine CAA was detected in 43% of patients. Serum CCA was detected in all infected individuals; however, no significant correlation was obtained between serum CCA levels and egg output in the stools of individual patients. This is the first study to demonstrate CCA in specimens of patients infected with S. intercalatum. The detection of CCA in urine is a new, non-invasive diagnostic method for S. intercalatum infection.