[Value of the antigen with molecular mass of 32 000 in immunodiagnosis of Angiostrongylus cantonensis].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of immunodiagnosis with the antigen with molecular mass of 32 000 of Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis(AC32). METHODS The major antigenic protein AC32 was purified from the antigens of A.cantonensis adult worm by electroelution from SDS-polyacrylamide gels. AC32-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and adult worm antigen (AWA)-ELISA were used to detect the specific IgG in the sera of normal rats (n=5) and rats with angiostrongyliasis (n=61), sera of healthy individuals (n=50) and patients (n=50) with angiostrongyliasis, schistosomiasis and other parasitosis. RESULTS The positivity rate in AC32-ELISA of the sera from rats with angiostrongyliasis was 100%; without false positive results or cross reaction between AC32 and the sera of the normal control and patients infected with parasites other than A.cantonensis. CONCLUSION AC32 of A.cantonensis is a valuable candidate antigen for immunodiagnosis of angiostrongyliasis with high sensitivity and specificity.