ANTIGEN DETECTION FOR IMMUNODIAGNOSIS OF SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM INFECTION: EVALUATION OF PURIFIED CATHEPSIN L CYSTEINE PROTEINASE IN RELAION TO OTHER CIRCULATING ANTIGENS.

Abstract

Urinary schistosomiasis, caused by infection with S.haematobium is one the major public health problems in the world and in Egypt. Diagnosis and quantification of infection is essential to ensure effective control. Diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis depends mainly on finding the characteristic eggs in the urine, but it lacks sensitivity due to diurnal and day to day variation in S. haematobium egg output. In addition, it is difficult to find eggs in the urine of people with a low worm load or those with infections less than one month duration. Immunodiagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis has proved to be very useful and more sensitive than parasitological methods. Antigen detection assays are considered of prime importance for immunodiagnosis, as the detection of circulating antigens can indicate an active infection.