Determination of IgG antibodies to Opisthorchis felineus in the test kit Vitrotest® Anti-Opisthorchis is based on a solid phase, indirect ELISA in a two-step incubation procedure.
○ ТК057 – 96 tests
- Solid phase: breakable microplate ELISA is coated Opisthorchis felineus antigens.
- Conjugate: a monoclonal antibodies to human IgG conjugated to horseradish peroxidase.
- Chromogen: ready to use TMB solution.
- Volume of sample for analysis: 10 μl.
- Assay time: 1h 15 min.
The causative agents of opisthorchiasis are two species of trematodes of the Opisthorchidae family – Opisthorchis felineus (Siberian fluke), common in Western Siberia, Kazakhstan and some areas of the Dnieper region; and Opisthorchis viverrini (squirrel fluke), found in countries with tropical climates (mainly in Thailand).
These small trematodes have a flat body 4-13 mm long and 1-3.5 mm wide. The oral sucker is located at the anterior end of the body, and the abdominal sucker is located at the border of the first and second quarter of the body.
Infection occurs when eating raw fish (thawed, frozen), slightly salted and insufficiently calcined carp fish containing helminth larvae – metacercariae. In the stomach, the upper parts of the small intestine, metacercariae are freed from the membrane and through 3-5 h reach the gallbladder, liver, pancreatic ducts, where after 2 weeks turn into sexually mature forms, capable of further releasing eggs.
At the early stage of invasion, a pronounced allergization of the body is observed. Mature opisthorchis injure mucous membranes of the pancreatic and bile ducts, create barriers to the outflow of bile, contribute to the development of cystic enlargements and neoplasms of the liver and carry out toxic and neuro-reflex effect.
Diagnosis of opisthorchiasis according to the clinical manifestations of the disease is difficult due to the absence of symptoms and syndromes characteristic only for this disease. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a thorough clinical, laboratory and X-ray (ultrasound inclusive) examination.
In the laboratory analysis, it is possible to detect the invasion of opisthorchis one month after the infection when helminths begin to lay eggs (ovoscopic examination of feces and duodenal juice of the patient). More significant complications arise in recognizing early phases of opisthorchiasis. However, more and more studies are being carried out to detect specific antibodies to Opisthorchis felineus by enzyme immunoassay. In the chronic stage invasion is diagnosed by detecting helminth eggs in bile and stools, as well as by ELISA.