Development of a double antibody sandwich ELISA assay for the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis

With the use of 2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against excretory/secretory (ES) antigens of adult Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a new method was developed for double antibody sandwich ELISA for the detection of circulating antigens (CAg). To evaluate the sensitivity of the new procedure, the CAg in sera of rats (80) and mice (15) infected with A. cantonensis, as well as CAg in sera of clinically confirmed angiostrongyliasis patients (70), were evaluated. Cross-reaction testing was used to determine the specificity of serum from patients infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichinella spiralis , Toxoplasma gondii , Schistosoma japonicum, Paragonimus westermani, Clonorchis sinensis, Echinococcus granulosus, Spirometra, and Taenia solium, as well as normal healthy people. The results proved that the sensitivity and the specificity of the new method were totally effective for the detection of A. cantonensis CAg. The assay is highly sensitive, specific, and reproducible, with easy handling and excellent cost effectiveness, and thereby provides a new method for the accurate diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis.