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Schistosomal Serology


Blood
Test performed by: LabPLUS VIM Infectious Disease Serology


Specimen Collection
SST3.5 mL SST Serum (Preferred)
Plain4 mL Plain Serum
Microsample250 uL Microsample Serum
Reference Intervals

Normally no antibodies detected

Serum titres of > 1:16 are regarded as significant. Mean serum titres of patients with current schistosomiasis range between 1:256 and 1:1024.



Turnaround Time:

Test performed twice a week. Analysis time 6 hrs


Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis) is an infection caused by parasites of the genus 'Schistosoma'.  Urinary tract Bilharziasis occurs mainly in Africa, and is caused by S. haematobium .

Intestinal Bilharziasis is caused by S .mansoni which occurs predominantly in Africa, Southwest Asia and Latin America.

Man is the definitive host, and the eggs of S. mansoni are shed in the faeces. Susceptible fresh water snails are the intermediate hosts.  The adult Schistosomes may persist in man for decades and cause severe organ lesions.

Limitations                    

Due to the similarities of the antigens, antibodies to Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma japonicum are also detected.

The sensitivity of this test for the detection of S.mansoni infection is approximately 98%. The sensitivity for detection of other schistosoma species is reduced (approx. 80% for either S.japonicum or S.haematobium).

References

Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology 1991:85:599.


Contact Information

For further information contact the laboratory  (contact via Lablink: 22000 or (09) 307-8995 or 0800 522 7587) ,or:
the Virology team virology@adhb.govt.nz

 



Last updated at 08:21:48 21/01/2020