Low sensitivity and frequent cross‐reactions in commercially available antibody detection ELISA assays for Taenia solium cysticercosis

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of two commercially available ELISA kits, Novalisa® and Ridascreen®, for the detection of antibodies to Taenia solium, compared to serological diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NCC) by LLGP‐EITB (electro‐immunotransfer blot assay using lentil‐lectin purified glycoprotein antigens). Methods Archive serum samples from patients with viable NCC (n = 45) or resolved, calcified NCC (n = 45), as well as sera from patients with other cestode parasites (hymenolepiasis, n = 45 and cystic hydatid disease, n = 45), were evaluated for cysticercosis antibody detection using two ELISA kits, Novalisa® and Ridascreen®. All NCC samples had previously tested positive, and all samples from heterologous infections were negative on LLGP‐EITB for cysticercosis. Positive rates were calculated by kit and sample group and compared between the two kits. Results Compared to LLGP‐EITB, the sensitivity of both ELISA assays to detect specific antibodies in patients with viable NCC was low (44.4% and 22.2%), and for calcified NCC, it was only 6.7% and 4.5%. Sera from patients with cystic hydatid disease were highly cross‐reactive in both ELISA assays (38/45, 84.4%; and 25/45, 55.6%). Sera from patients with hymenolepiasis cross‐reacted in five cases in one of the assays (11.1%) and in only one sample with the second assay (2.2%). Conclusions The performance of Novalisa® and Ridascreen® was poor. Antibody ELISA detection cannot be recommended for the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. Objectif Evaluer la performance diagnostique de deux kits ELISA disponibles dans le commerce, Novalisa® et Ridascreen®, pour la détection d'anticorps de Taenia solium, comparés au diagnostic sérologique de la neurocysticercose (NCC) par LLGP‐EITB (test électro immunotransfert blot utilisant des antigènes purifiés de glycoprotéine de lentil‐lectine). Méthodes Des échantillons stockés de sérum de patients atteints de NCC viables ou résolues (n = 45), de NCC calcifiée (n = 45), ainsi que des sérums de patients avec d'autres parasites cestodes (hyménolépiase, n = 45 et hydatidose kystique, n = 45), ont été évalués pour la détection d'anticorps de cysticercose en utilisant deux kits ELISA, Novalisa® et Ridascreen®. Tous les échantillons de NCC avaient déjà été testés positifs et tous les échantillons provenant d'infections hétérologues étaient négatifs avec le test LLGP‐EITB pour la cysticercose. Les taux de positivité ont été calculés par kit et par groupe d’échantil