Evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of GST-tagged recombinant antigens 2B2t, Ag5t and DIPOL in ELISA for the diagnosis and follow up of patients with cystic echinococcosis
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008892
- PMID
- 33253168
- PMCID
- PMC7728171
- OpenAlex
- W3106845263
- Study type
- Cohort study
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The findings address diagnostic and monitoring challenges for cystic echinococcosis, a neglected zoonotic disease where current serological assays lack standardization and have suboptimal performance. GST-2B2t may improve confirmation testing and post-treatment monitoring in seropositive patients.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study evaluated the diagnostic and follow-up performance of GST-tagged recombinant antigens (2B2t, Ag5t, and DIPOL chimera) compared to crude hydatid fluid in IgG-ELISA for cystic echinococcosis.
Study design
Retrospective cohort study comparing IgG-ELISA performance of hydatid fluid and several recombinant antigens using serum from 253 well-characterized cystic echinococcosis patients, 92 alveolar echinococcosis patients, and 82 healthy donors. Ultrasonography-confirmed lesions served as the reference standard.
Population and setting
The study included 253 patients with ultrasonography-confirmed cystic echinococcosis lesions, 92 patients with alveolar echinococcosis, and 82 healthy donors from a previously described cohort.
Main findings
Crude hydatid fluid achieved the highest sensitivity at 86.7% (95% CI: 81.2-91.0), while GST-2B2t demonstrated the best specificity at 95.8% (95% CI: 88.3-99.1) and lowest cross-reactivity with alveolar echinococcosis at 38.7% (95% CI: 27.6-50.6). GST-2B2t sensitivity was 70.0% (95% CI: 63.1-76.2), and negative test results correlated with good treatment response.
Public-health relevance
The findings address diagnostic and monitoring challenges for cystic echinococcosis, a neglected zoonotic disease where current serological assays lack standardization and have suboptimal performance. GST-2B2t may improve confirmation testing and post-treatment monitoring in seropositive patients.
Important limitations
None of the tested recombinant antigens achieved sufficient performance to replace hydatid fluid for primary diagnosis. This summary relies on the supplied single-article abstract and metadata; the original paper is required for decision-grade interpretation of methodology, patient selection criteria, and statistical analysis.
GIDS interpretation
This article was identified through classifier links to Echinococcosis disease, Italy country context, and Diagnostics, One Health, and Treatment topics. It contributes methodological evidence on serological test performance rather than epidemiological surveillance data.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 10 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.