Immunoreactivity in pulmonary echinococcosis. 2. Evaluation of antibody response.

The part played by certain factors in determining the antibody response in pulmonary echinococcosis has been studied. Five immunodiagnostic procedures were used-complement fixation, latex agglutination, bentonite flocculation, passive haemagglutination, and intradermal tests-and parasitological and pathological examinations were carried out. The number of hydatid cysts had only a small influence on the qualitative nature of the immune response while the quantitative effect was considerable.

Immunoreactivity in pulmonary echinococcosis. A comparative study of immunodiagnostic tests.

A comparison was made of the diagnostic value of five immunological tests-complement fixation (CF), latex agglutination (LA), bentonite flocculation (BF), passive haemagglutination (PHA), and intradermal (ID)-in patients operated on for pulmonary echinococcosis. The sensitivity of all five tests was significantly lower in the patients with pulmonary echinococcosis than in a comparable group with liver echinococcosis. Some 252 patients with miscellaneous nonhydatid diseases and parasitic infections were also tested; nonspecific reactions were highest in the ID and CF tests and lowest in the LA and BF tests.