DRG Taenia Solium IgG (cysticercosis) (EIA-3513)

INTENDED USE
For the qualitative screening of serum IgG antibodies to Taenia solium using an Enzyme Linked Immunoabsorbant Assay (ELISA) technique.

Summary
Infection of the larval form (cysticerci) of Taenia in any tissue or organ is known as the disease cysticercosis. Many sites of
infection have been documented but the central nervous system has been the most common. Presence of the cysticerci in the
brain may cause increased cranial pressure, seizures and altered mental states. Any person with impaired CNS function
should have the possibility of T. solium infection investigated.
The disease is acquired by ingestion of T. solium eggs from a number of different routes; including food contaminated with
feces, unclean hands of T. solium infected workers, contaminated water or gastric reflux in tapeworm carriers.
Cysticercosis is rare in most industrialized nations but is endemic in developing areas such as Latin America, Asia and
Africa. Most of the cases of cysticercosis in the United States are associated with immigrants from these countries.
Reliable diagnosis of cysticercosis requires multiple testing methods such as radiography and serology. Although use of cyst
vesicular antigen has helped to increase its sensitivity and specificity, significant cross reactions with Echinococcosis
occurs. If Echinococcus infection cannot be ruled out in the differential diagnosis, a positive sample should be confirmed by
other means (i.e. immunoblot offered by the CDC) or by other non-serological means.