Diagnostic serology of tropical parasitic diseases

摘要: Abstract • Parasitic serology has been an expanding field for the last two decades and yielded thousands of publications in scientific literature. The result emergence some highly convenient immunoassay systemss Although not all methods are readily applicable tropics, have high clinical value (e.g. IFA diagnosis hepatic amoebiasis) while others may be most useful seroepidemiology malaria). Most new more than enough sensitivity. However, there major problems to overcome before we can consider that acceptable specificity achieved. This is primarily a question antigen quality. There urgent need increased effort devoted preparation, purification standardization parasitic antigens use generation immunoassays. To this end, development parasite vitro cultivation techniques would contribute greatly rapid advances as should monoclonal antibodies by affinity chromatographic other procedures. If serious made deal with immunodiagnostic question, every reason expect antibody assays infections will achieve same level validity seen virology bacteriology. Inadequate validation cited another impediment discipline it proposed future include adequate data describing assay predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, cross-reactivity precision. Ultimately, reliable infection depend on immunoassays specific circulating or excreted specimens, such serum urine. These probably labelled reagent using enhanced sensitivity defined specificity. Antigen could provide definitive parasitological diagnoses at best only presumptive diagnosis.