Evaluation of a coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of canine echinococcosis in Iran

Echinococcosis is one of the most important zoonosis in Iran. Due to this fact that providing a reliable diagnostic method for detection of this infection in definitive host is a critical prerequirement for the establishment of appropriate control programs in our country, one hundred and sixteen carnivores including 80 dogs, 27 jackals, 8 foxes and one wolf were collected from rural areas of Hamadan, Azarbaijan and Tehran provinces and examined for Echinococcus granulosus infection. Canine echinococcosis was diagnosed upon direct microscopic examination of intestinal contents and mucosal scraping for adult tapeworms, and a coproantigen detection enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (CA-ELISA) for Echinococcus granulosus. The overall prevalence of canine echinococcosis using the ELISA test was 43.1 % (50/116). The relative frequency of canine echinococcosis was 37 % (43/116) by microscopic examination.

The sensitivity and specificity of the CA-ELISA test as referenced by necropsy findings was 72.1 % and 74 % respectively. We found this assay to be a very suitable and advantageous method for the surveillance of canine population especially in regions with endemic echinococcosis.