Cysticercosis IgG:
Why Cysticercosis- IgG Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Tapeworm (Taenia solium) is a parasitic worm – Cestode (Echinococcus). Pig serves as an intermediate host. It can cause infection within the human intestine by adult tapeworms known as taeniasis, and can also lead to complications due to cysticercosis (infestation caused by larval cysts of tapeworm) which can affect various parts of the body (cysts in the muscle, cysts in the eyes like conjunctiva, liver etc) including brain(cysts in the brain and spinal cord i.e Neurocysticercosis is caused by larval cysts – immature stage of a pork tapeworm parasite can lead to seizures). It can also lead to complications such as degeneration and calcification of the brain. Source of infection is personal poor hygiene and improper sanitations. Tapeworm eggs are spread through food (undercooked pork infected with tapeworm), water contaminated with infected sources such as Fecal contamination with tapeworm eggs. In the small intestine, cysticerci will evaginate and attach vis a scolex to the intestinal wall and then become mature adult tapeworms. The eggs release oncospheres which invade the intestinal wall and disseminate via the blood to muscle, liver, brain and other tissues where they form cysts (cysticerci). Serological tests to detect cysticercosis are enzyme-linked immuno-assay eg. Enzyme Linked Immuno Electro-transfer Blot or EITB. Cysticercosis IgG (Anti-Cysticercosis antibodies) test is used as a simple diagnostic tool for the screening of taeniasis (Tapeworm infection) by ELISA method. Signs and symptoms of taeniasis include digestive problems such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach upset, skin manifestations, severe headaches, epilepsy, blindness and can also be fatal. Additional tests include physical examination visualizing parasite in the eye by fundoscopy, examination of stool sample specimen (stool specimen is collected on 3 different days and examined under a microscope for either tapeworm segments known as proglottids or taenia eggs), patients with a constant headache and signs of hydrocephalus - CT Scan and MRI (intra-ventricular cysts) of the brain shows ring enhancement due to cystic lesion and also by PAGE, CSF studies (pleocytosis, elevated proteins, decreased glucose etc).
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
