Infectious Diseases >> Filaria
Diagnosis
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Identification of microfilariae by
microscopic examination is the conventional method for diagnosing
active infection but this is not always feasible as microfilariae are
nocturnally periodic means that they only circulate in the blood at
night.
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Immunodiagnosis Method:
SEVAFILACHEK (IgG & Ag
assay) dipstick based ELISA system has been explored in several ways at
MGIMS using penicillinase enzyme, microfilarial excretory secretory
antigen and filarial antibodies in diagnosis of filarial infection in
different clinical groups. The detection of IgG antibody (titre 1:300 &
above) against specific microfilarial antigen was found to be useful for
detecting microfilaraemic and most of the clinical filarial cases. Free
and immune complexed filarial antigens (titre 1:300 & above) are
detected using filarial serum immunoglobulin G (FSIgG). Filarial antigen
detection was found to be more useful in epididymoorchitis and allergic
state such as Tropical eosinophilia. The test system showed a
sensitivity and specificity of about 80%.
