Effective and accurate analysis for helminthiases: how to choose? The study of body antibodies to helminths as an aid in determining human helminthic invasions.

Helminthiases are a fairly common and frequently occurring group of diseases. However, due to the peculiarities of their pathophysiology, these conditions are able to create a large number of different symptoms and disguise themselves as other diseases. Similar "masks" of other conditions seriously complicate the diagnosis of helminthiases themselves, and with it the timely start of treatment. In addition, classical general clinical studies do not make it possible to confirm or refute the presence of helminth in the human body.

General information

Determining the level of antibodies to helminths belongs to the category of serological tests. This group of studies uses the method of identifying a particular pathological pathogen, using the antigen-antibody principle.

An important diagnostic attribute for determining helminthic invasions is the analysis of the clinical picture.

This principle is a feature of the human immune system to respond to any pathological agent by releasing specific substances that can affect it.

In this case, the pathological pathogen or foreign agent is called an antigen, and the substances produced by the immune system are called antibodies. Therefore, using certain markers to search for one or another pathogen, you can confirm or deny its presence.

Antibodies are called immunoglobulins, and they are denoted by the symbol Ig

Method for diagnosing antibodies to helminths

The main place in the serological diagnosis of helminthiases is the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The principle of this method is to add special diagnosticums to the blood serum under study, after which the formed complexes are counted in a certain way. This calculation makes it possible to assess the level of detectable markers in human serum, in particular anthelmintic antibodies.

With the help of ELISA, you can perform 2 options for research: quantitative and qualitative. Qualitative analysis provides information about the presence or absence of the test substance, while quantitative analysis makes it possible to determine its titer (quantity).

It is he who is used to diagnose anthelmintic antibodies, determining their titer, as well as individual fractions.

An ELISA blood test is prepared from 2 to 9 days, depending on the type of worms

The results of enzyme immunoassay for helminth markers can be the following values:

An increase in immunoglobulins of the G.
This result will indicate a possible chronic infection of the human body with helminths.
An increase in the number of immunoglobulins G and E is a chronic helminthic invasion with an exacerbation of the condition.
An increase in the titer of immunoglobulins of class E- may be the presence of an acute allergic process or a recent helminthic invasion.

It should be added that the results of the analysis for the presence of markers (immunoglobulins) of the body to helminths cannot be a completely reliable confirmation of helminthic invasion. In fact, they make it possible to assess the level of individual fractions of immunoglobulins in the body, which can increase both in the direct presence of helminths in the body, and in a number of other conditions. Therefore, such methods should be prescribed in combination with others, namely: a thorough objective examination, general clinical analyzes and instrumental diagnostic methods.

This principle is a feature of the human immune system to respond to any pathological agent by releasing specific substances that can affect it.

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Blood test for helminths(screening study) allows you to identify the cause of several helminthiases: trichinosis, toxocariasis, echinococcosis, opisthorchiasis.
whether a positive result was obtained blood test for helminths, an additional study should be carried out for the presence of antibodies to this helminth. Opisthorchiasis is a disease that is caused by helminths that belong to trematode worms. This disease is characterized by lesions of the liver and pancreas. With liver damage at an early stage, acute allergosis is observed with an increased level of eosinophils in the blood. At a late stage, the hepatobiliary system is predominantly affected, while the level of eosinophils decreases to normal numbers or a moderate increase.

Serological diagnosis of opisthorchiasis at an early stage of the disease is the only way of laboratory diagnosis of opisthorchiasis, and in chronic opisthorchiasis - an auxiliary method of diagnosis. Antibodies of the IgG class are produced in the third or fourth week after infection, their titer reaches a maximum by the third month and remains at this level for up to one year or even longer. But with long periods of illness, patients often have a decrease in the level of specific antibodies when analyzed for opisthorchiasis.

Echinococcosis - is a helminthiasis of the cestosis group, which appears during the pulmonary stages. E. granulosus in humans is manifested by the presence of unilocular cysts, whose main site of occurrence is the liver and lungs.

Diagnosis of echinococcosis is a rather difficult task. It can be suspected when the cyst ruptures, because due to the outflow of fluid, an anaphylactic reaction may begin to develop. But in twenty-five percent of cases, there is no increase in the level of eosinophils. For the diagnosis of echinococcosis, the ELISA method is used, which allows the determination of IgG class antibodies to echinococcus antigens. But the problem is that carriers of echinococcal cysts do not develop an immune response and there are no antibodies in the blood, due to which the sensitivity of the method decreases. More positive results with ELISA are observed in patients with hepatic cysts - up to ninety percent and only in fifty - sixty percent of patients with alveolar echinococcosis. The determination of antibodies to echinococcus in serum is also used to monitor the effectiveness of operations. The disappearance of antibodies in the serum within three months speaks of the radical nature of the operation. If the level of antibodies in the postoperative period decreases, and after that their level rises again, then this indicates a recurrence of the cyst. In some cases, after a well-performed surgical treatment, elevated titers last for several years. Increased titers can be detected in patients with an active process, which is most often localized in the abdominal organs. With pulmonary localization of Echinococcus cysts, antibody titers are low. Serological examination is used for the primary diagnosis of echinococcosis, to evaluate the results of conservative and surgical treatment, as well as to monitor patients in dynamics and to identify relapses of the disease.

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When to donate blood for AT to helminths?

In order for the result to be as reliable as possible, you should properly prepare for it:

Before the study, it is not recommended to eat food, as it must be done on an empty stomach. The only thing you can do is drink plain water;
Physical activity before a blood test for antibodies to helminths should also be excluded;
A day before the diagnosis, it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages and eat fatty, smoked or salty foods.

If possible, one week before the test, you should stop taking any medications. In the event that this is not possible, it is necessary to inform the doctor - diagnostician about the medications used. If this is not done, the blood for antibodies to helminth antigens will show unreliable results.

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Types of helminths

The most common helminths are:

When is analysis needed?

Chair disorder.
Vomit.
Feeling of nausea.
Flatulence.
Pain in the abdomen and in the right hypochondrium.
Headache.
Skin rashes.
Irritability.
Sleep disturbance.

It is worth noting that helminthiasis in children can manifest itself in a different way. It is very important to timely take a blood test for antibodies to helminths in children under 3 years old.

At this age, the baby still cannot tell you about his ailments, and infection can lead to dangerous consequences for the child.

In children, helminthiasis can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

Strong salivation.
Restlessness and crying at night.
Chair disorder.
Urinary incontinence.
Lack of appetite.
Weight loss.
Inflammation in the throat and nose.
Skin rashes.
Itching in the anus.

A few years ago, and in some medical institutions to this day, children are assigned to study feces for helminthiasis. However, this analysis often shows false negative results, because the accuracy of the study depends on the professionalism and responsibility of the laboratory assistant. For this reason, if you or your child has a negative scraping or stool test result, but there are signs of helminth infection, you need to take an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Blood analysis

Either there are antibodies in the blood, or they are not.

Adult patients should follow the usual recommendations before taking the test. These include avoiding, a few days before blood sampling, from:

Alcohol intake.
Taking medication.
Fatty food.
Strong physical activity.
Do not smoke one hour before the test.

Antibodies to helminth antigens begin to be produced in the body a few days after infection, for this reason, the ELISA analysis is informative enough to be used as an early diagnosis. This analysis is mandatory in the following cases:

There are symptoms of infection.
When registering a child in a general education institution.
When issuing a health book.
Before admission to hospital.
During the dispensary.
People engaged in cattle breeding and working in meat production.

In addition, ELISA for helminths is prescribed to patients with the following diseases:

Lack of red blood cells.
Anemia.
Pathology of the bladder of an inflammatory nature.
Urolithiasis disease.
Cholecystitis.
Pathology of the prostate.
Women's inflammatory diseases.

Study transcript

An ELISA blood test is a highly accurate analysis that is carried out on special equipment. When diagnosing, the instrument panel accurately shows the content of IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood.

It is these two indicators that allow specialists to determine the presence of infection and the stage of the disease.

Indicators can be as follows:

High concentration of IgG antibodies - chronic helminthiasis.
The presence of IgM antibodies - acute helminthiasis.
The presence of IgM and IgG is an exacerbation of chronic helminthiasis.

Therapy

In addition to taking antihelminthic drugs, patients are prescribed the following drugs:

Medicines that improve the intestinal microflora.
Vitamin complexes.
Antihistamines.

Also, patients are advised to follow a sparing diet. Food during the treatment period should be healthy and light. It is necessary to exclude fried, fatty, salty, smoked and sweet dishes. It is necessary to follow the fractional nutrition schedule. You need to eat 5-6 times a day in small portions. Plentiful drinking is recommended.

The most common helminths are:

When is analysis needed?

Chair disorder.
Vomit.
Feeling of nausea.
Flatulence.
Pain in the abdomen and in the right hypochondrium.
Headache.
Skin rashes.
Irritability.
Sleep disturbance.

It is worth noting that helminthiasis in children can manifest itself in a different way. It is very important to timely take a blood test for antibodies to helminths in children under 3 years old.

At this age, the baby still cannot tell you about his ailments, and infection can lead to dangerous consequences for the child.

In children, helminthiasis can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

Strong salivation.
Restlessness and crying at night.
Chair disorder.
Urinary incontinence.
Lack of appetite.
Weight loss.
Inflammation in the throat and nose.
Skin rashes.
Itching in the anus.

Blood analysis

Either there are antibodies in the blood, or they are not.

Adult patients should follow the usual recommendations before taking the test. These include avoiding, a few days before blood sampling, from:

Alcohol intake.
Taking medication.
Fatty food.
Strong physical activity.
Do not smoke one hour before the test.

There are symptoms of infection.
When registering a child in a general education institution.
When issuing a health book.
Before admission to hospital.
During the dispensary.
People engaged in cattle breeding and working in meat production.

In addition, ELISA for helminths is prescribed to patients with the following diseases:

Lack of red blood cells.
Anemia.
Pathology of the bladder of an inflammatory nature.
Urolithiasis disease.
Cholecystitis.
Pathology of the prostate.
Women's inflammatory diseases.

Study transcript

An ELISA blood test is a highly accurate analysis that is carried out on special equipment. When diagnosing, the instrument panel accurately shows the content of IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood.

It is these two indicators that allow specialists to determine the presence of infection and the stage of the disease.

Indicators can be as follows:

High concentration of IgG antibodies - chronic helminthiasis.
The presence of IgM antibodies - acute helminthiasis.
The presence of IgM and IgG is an exacerbation of chronic helminthiasis.

Therapy

In addition to taking antihelminthic drugs, patients are prescribed the following drugs:

Medicines that improve the intestinal microflora.
Vitamin complexes.
Antihistamines.

AT to helminths (opisthorchiasis, echinococcosis, toxocariasis, trichinosis) Antibodies to opisthorchis antigens in the blood - an indicator of infection with helminths (worms) feline fluke and viverra fluke, causing the disease opisthorchiasis. The disease occurs with damage to the liver, gallbladder. The main indications for use: preventive examinations in people living in endemic areas (Volga, Irtysh, Ob, Kama river basins), consumption of raw fish, chronic cholangitis, high eosinophilia.

Opisthorchiasis is a natural focal biohelminthiasis characterized by a chronic course with a predominant lesion of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. It is caused by two types of trematodes - Opisthorchis felineus (cat fluke) and Opisthorchis viverrini (viverra fluke). Humans are the definitive host, while freshwater mollusks and cyprinids are intermediate hosts. The transmission mechanism is fecal-oral through consumption of raw or undercooked fish. In the early period, the disease proceeds with skin rashes, weakness, subfibrillation, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. In the late period, the clinical picture of chronic cholecystocholangitis predominates, less often pancreatitis. Antibodies of the IgM class are detected one week after infection. Their concentration decreases after 6-8 weeks. Antibodies of the IgG class are detected after 2-3 weeks and can be determined for another year. The determination of antibodies in serum is one of the early diagnostic methods for suspected infection. In chronic course, this is an auxiliary method for determining opisthorchia eggs in the duodenal contents.

Antibodies to antigens of echinococcus IgG in the blood is an indicator of human infection with echinococcus. The disease mainly affects the liver and lungs. The main indications for use: the clinical picture of echinococcus, volumetric formations in the lungs and liver, evaluation of the surgical removal of echinococcal cysts, examination of risk groups - (hunters, fur farmers, leather workers, dog owners and their families).
The causative agent of echinococcosis is small tape biohelminths. They cause biohelminthiasis, which is characterized by a chronic course, allergization of the body, destructive damage to the liver, lungs and other organs. The final hosts that release helminth eggs into the environment are more often dogs, cats, foxes, raccoon dogs and other predators. Once infected, the animal can be a source of the pathogen up to 2-3 years. The mechanism of transmission of infection is fecal-oral. The route of transmission is food, water, seeded with helminth eggs. A sick person, being an intermediate host, does not pose an epidemiological danger. When introduced into the human body, the faces of echinococcus form a larvocyst in the liver, lungs - a single-chamber cyst (the stage of development of the helminth). The cyst reaches sizes from 1 to 30 cm. for 3-10 years. Treatment is usually surgical. The disappearance of antibodies after 2-3 months indicates a successful outcome of the operation. An increase in the content after a decrease indicates in favor of a recurrence of cyst formation. It should be borne in mind that the serological diagnosis of echinococcus is difficult because a number of carriers of cysts with echinococcus do not produce antibodies. Low levels of antibodies are detected at the beginning of cyst formation or in a late, inoperable stage of the disease.

Toxocariasis is a helminthiasis, from the group of nematodosis, characterized by damage to the liver, lungs, recurrent fever, and allergic manifestations. The causative agent of the disease are nematode larvae of dogs (Toxocara canis) and cats (Toxocara cati), which are not characteristic of humans. The source of the pathogen is often dogs, as well as cats and rodents. Humans become infected through food contaminated with Toxocara eggs and through contact with dogs. When eggs of Toxocara enter the small intestine, larvae are formed from them. The latter, migrating, can enter the liver, lungs, eyes, brain and other organs, causing a varied clinical picture. For example, when it enters the lungs, a clinical picture of pneumonia occurs, with a dry cough and shortness of breath. Eye damage can result in loss of vision. A characteristic sign of toxocariasis is high eosinophilia. The detection of toxocars in the human body is difficult because these helminths do not reach a sexually mature state, and they cannot be detected in feces and duodenal contents. The determination of antibodies in blood serum is an effective method for diagnosing toxocariasis and allows you to assess the quality of the treatment.

Antibodies to trichinella antigens in the blood are an indicator of human infection with helminths (worms) that cause the disease trichinosis. The course of the disease is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations and allergic reactions. The main indications for use: history taking and clinical signs of trichinosis (fever, puffiness of the face, swelling of the eyelids, muscle pain, eosinophilia, etc.) after eating meat from wild and domestic animals, which is the source of the disease.
Trichinosis is a helminthiasis caused by the nematode Trichinella spiralis (roundworm). The source of infection are infected domestic animals (pigs, dogs) and wild animals (bears, wild boars). The mechanism of transmission is fecal-oral, with the use of insufficiently thermally processed food infected with trichinella. After infection with Trichinella, its larvae migrate in the body and enter various organs and tissues, mainly in the striated muscles. In the muscles, the larvae are encapsulated. The disease is manifested by fever from 1 to 6 weeks, muscle pain, swelling of the eyelids, puffiness of the face, eosinophilia, skin rashes, possible damage to the heart muscle and central nervous system. Antibodies in the blood are detected 2-3 weeks after infection from meat of domestic animals, when infected from meat of wild animals, antibodies can be detected after 4-6 weeks. Antibodies can be detected in the blood for more than 2 years. If trichinosis is suspected and a negative result is obtained, the study is repeated after 2 weeks. An increase in the concentration of antibodies indicates infection with Trichinella.

The disease is called helminthiasis and is extremely dangerous for human health.

Elena Malysheva TV program about helminths

There are many dangerous types of worms in the world, affecting internal organs and causing unpleasant symptoms:

Ask your question to the doctor of clinical laboratory diagnostics

Anna Poniaeva. She graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod Medical Academy (2007-2014) and residency in clinical laboratory diagnostics (2014-2016).

Indications for the diagnosis of IF may be different:

Violent itching in the anus (especially severe in the evening).
Loss of appetite (reduction or absence).
Grinding of teeth at night.
Digestive disorders (constipation, diarrhea), flatulence, mucus in the feces.
Dermatological diseases.
Sleep disorders.
Headache.
Weakened immunity.
Weight loss.
Physical weakness.
Brittle nails and hair.
Symptoms in children

In children, the signs of infection may vary slightly. It is worth paying attention to:

A sharp increase in appetite.
Profuse salivation.
Abdominal pain, digestive disorders (constipation, diarrhea).
Enuresis (involuntary urination) is typical for young girls, as the worms can irritate the walls of the urethra.
Skin problems: acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, urticaria.
Inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx that occur more often than usual (adenoids, polyps, sinusitis).
Increased irritability, whims, decreased concentration, sleep disturbance, fatigue.
Itching in the anus.

How is the analysis carried out?

The last meal should be 10-12 hours before blood sampling.
The day before the analysis, alcohol, smoking, smoked meats, pickles, fatty foods should be excluded.
Eliminate stress factors, physical and psycho-emotional stress.
For 6-7 days, stop taking medications. If this is not possible, the doctor should be informed.

Where to do?

A blood test for helminths is offered by many city clinics and laboratories.

In Moscow, diagnostics can be done at Invitro, MedCenterService, Analysis24, Health Clinic, Vesna on Presnya, Clinic of Modern Medicine, SM-Clinic and others.
In St. Petersburg, you can get diagnosed at Invitro, SM-Clinic, Helix laboratory service, LabStori, Diamed and others.

Deadlines and cost

Ifa analysis takes 2 days (not counting the day of taking the material). In some clinics, the period may increase 3 to 7 business days.

As an additional diagnosis, a specialist may prescribe to take: a fecal analysis for helminth eggs.

How is the treatment carried out

Treatment of helminthiasis more often performed on an outpatient basis. In severe cases, it is carried out in a hospital under the strict supervision of specialists.

For the treatment of helminthiasis in adults is prescribed:

Taking antihelminthic drugs (Pirantel, Nemozol, Vermox)
Preparations for the normalization of the intestinal flora (Linex, Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin, Bifiform)
Antihistamines (cetrin, suprastin)
With anemia, a reception is prescribed, vitamins B12, folic acid.
Diet food.
Complexes of vitamins and fortifying agents.
Children's therapy is similar to that of adults. In addition to taking medication, it is imperative to observe:
Regular showering 2-3 times a day.
The child should change underwear at least 2 times a day.
Daily change and ironing of bed linen.
Short cutting of nails for a child, with the treatment of the subungual space with an alcohol solution.
Sometimes cleansing enemas are prescribed.

Prevention of helminthiasis

Wash hands after being outdoors and interacting with pets, as well as before eating.
Thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits, dried fruits before eating.
Maintain cleanliness and order in the house.
Conduct heat treatment of raw meat, seafood and fish.
Timely change of bed and underwear.
Timely conduct deworming of pets.

We suggest you watch an interesting version about getting rid of helminths through strengthening immunity

Do not forget to keep the house clean, wash your hands well before eating, rinse vegetables and fruits, cook meat and fish dishes properly.