Nuclear techniques in seroepidemiology and diagnosis of parasitic diseases

The general aspects and applications of radioimmunoassays and related procedures in parasitic diseases are considered. Immunoassays for antibodies are available for many protozoa or helminths and monoclonal antibodies have been used for such assays. Precise definition and purification of functional antigens of importance in immunity are still required before tests for antibodies can be considered as more than complementary tests to routine parasitology. Post-therapeutic follow-up of hydatid disease might take advantage of measurement of antihydatid IgE antibody, which decreases more rapidly after successful cure than conventional antibodies. Measurement of circulating antigen has been investigated in several parasite infections and good agreement has been reported with parasite burden. This kind of immunoassay might allow better assessment of parasite infection for immunodiagnosis or seroepidemiology than measurement of antibodies. (author)