Detection of Circulating Antibody of Parastrongylus cantonensis in Sera with Eosinophilic Meningitis by Dot-Blot ELISA
Kanchana Tomanakan *, Nattiya Srisurach **, Surin Sae-tung ***, Churat Pengpinich ****
Affiliation : * Division of Immunology, Department of Clinical Pathology, Khon Kaen Hospital, Khon Kaen ** Division of Bacteriology, Department of Clinical Pathology, Khon Kaen Hospital, Khon Kaen *** Division of Neuro-Medicine, Department of Medicine, Khon Kaen Hospital, Khon Kaen **** Division of Laboratory, Wang-Yai Hospital, Khon Kaen
Background : Eosinophilic meningitis caused by Parastrongylus cantonensis, the rat lung worm is a major
public health problem in Thailand. Humans acquire this parasite by eating raw food containing infective
larvae. A specific diagnosis of Parastrongyliasis is difficult to make because identification of parasite materials
by biopsy or chance finding is rarely possible.
Objective : Develop alternative approaches of Parastrongylus cantonensis infection employing crude antigen
by dot-blot ELISA.
Material and Method: The investigation was carried out between October 2003 and July 2004 in Khon Kaen,
which is an endemic area. One hundred thirty two serum samples from several villagers of the present study
area were divided into five groups. Group 1 consisted of 30 patients with Cryptococcal meningitis, group 2
were 22 cases of Bacterial meningitis, group 3 were 32 cases of eosinophilic meningitis, group 4 were other
parasitic infections (4 from Cysticercosis, 2 from Fascioliasis, 12 from Malaria), and group 5 were 30 negative
healthy control.
Results : The result demonstrated that 26 cases of eosinophilic meningitis, were positive with Dot-blot
ELISA.(81.3%). None of the other groups of sample reacted with this antigen.
Conclusion : The data obtained showed that Dot-blot ELISA has a potential for diagnosis of eosinophilic
meningitis caused by Parastrongylus cantonensis.
Keywords : Eosinophilic meningitis, Dot-blot ELISA, Parastrongylus cantonensis
