Development and Validation of a Copro-Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay Sandwich for Detection of Echinococcus granulosus–Soluble Membrane Antigens in Dogs

Luis M. Jara Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú;

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Magaly Rodriguez Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú;

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Faride Altamirano Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú;

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Antonio Herrera Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú;

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Manuela Verastegui Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú;

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Luis G. Gímenez-Lirola College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa;

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Robert H. Gilman Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

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Cesar M. Gavidia Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú;

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Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Detection of the adult stage in the canine definitive host is essential for estimating infection rates, surveillance and monitoring of CE control programs. This study sought to develop and validate a coproantigen sandwich enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (copro-ELISA), based on antibodies against E. granulosus–soluble membrane antigens (EGMA), that is capable of distinguishing infected and noninfected dogs. Anti-E. granulosus polyclonal immunoglobulin G antibodies were obtained from rabbit antiserum against EGMA. Optimization of the test was performed with 51 positive and 56 negative stool samples of canine echinococcosis. Specificity, sensitivity, cross-reactivity, intra- and inter-assay precision, and over time detection were evaluated. According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 96.1% (CI: 85.9–99.6) and 98.2% (CI: 89.5–100), respectively. Negative and positive predictive values were 96.5% (CI: 91.7–100) and 98% (CI: 94.1–100), respectively. No cross-reactivity with Taenia hydatigena, Dipylidium caninum, or Toxocara canis was observed. Intra- and inter-assay repeatability showed values of less than 15% of the variation coefficient. The over time detection was from 20 to 27 days postinfection with E. granulosus. The copro-ELISA based on EGMA detection offers a simplified in-house development of diagnostic testing. This assay showed high specificity and sensitivity and had no cross-reactivity with other parasites. Further studies and development of this test in a kit format may be useful for the detection of active infection in dogs living in CE endemic regions.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Luis M. Jara, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Ave. Honorio Delgado 430, Lima, Perú. E-mail: luis.jara.s@upch.pe

Financial support: This work was supported by Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agraria (SENASA, Peru), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Authors’ addresses: Luis M. Jara, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú, E-mail: luis.jara.s@upch.pe. Magaly Rodriguez and Manuela Verastegui, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú, E-mails: magaly.rodriguez.r27@gmail.com and manuela.verastegui@upch.pe. Faride Altamirano, Antonio Herrera, and Cesar M. Gavidia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú, E-mails: faride.az2@gmail.com, antoniovet99@gmail.com, and cgavidiac@unmsm.edu.pe. Luis G. Gímenez-Lirola, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, E-mail: luisggl@iastate.edu. Robert H. Gilman, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, E-mail: gilmanbob@gmail.com.

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