Specific IgG and IgA to larvae, parthenogenetic females, and eggs of Strongyloides venezuelensis in the immunodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis

The aim of this study was to detect levels of IgG and IgA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using alkaline extracts of larvae, adult female worms, and eggs of Strongyloides venezuelensis as antigen. One hundred twenty serum samples divided into 3 groups were analysed: group I (40 strongyloidiasis patients), group II (40 patients with other parasitic infections), and group III (40 healthy subjects). Statistical variations were analyzed using analysis of variance. There was a significant statistical difference (P < 0.001) in the detection of antibodies in group I between larvae and female antigens and between larvae and egg antigens, with higher positivity using larvae antigen. The larvae antigen showed the highest values for sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic efficiency in ELISA. This study is the first that examines the use of adult female worm and egg antigens to detect antibodies for human strongyloidiasis diagnosis compared with the larval extract. By comparing all 3 extracts, larval antigens demonstrated better diagnostic parameters.