Sero-epidemiological survey for alveolar echinococcosis (by Em2-ELISA) of blood donors in an endemic area of Switzerland
Gottstein, Bruno ; Lengeler, Christian ; Bachmann, Pierre ; Hagemann, Peter ; Kocher, Pierre ; Brossard, Michel ; Witassek, Felix ; Eckert, Johannes
In: Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1987, vol. 81, no. 6, p. 960-964
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- Sera from 17 166 blood donors living in 10 cantons of northern Switzerland in an area endemic for Echinococcus multilocularis were investigated by serological survey for alveolar echinococcosis (AE). A highly species-specific antigen (Em2) and a commonly used E. granulosus hydatid fluid antigen (EgHF) were compared for their suitability in seroepidemiology. EgHF showed a degree of nonspecificity which did not allow direct detection of AE cases. Antibody reaction with Em2 resulted in the detection of 2 asymptomatic clinical cases of AE (seroprevalence 0·01%) within this population of blood donors. A further 4 persons were positive in Em2-ELISA. These 4 persons had negative imaging studies and will be followed serologically and clinically