Dot immunobinding assay versus sandwich ELISA in diagnosis of invasive amoebiasis

Sera from 34 patients of amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and 11 patients with amoebic dysentery (AD) were examined for the presence of specific Entamoeba histolytica (EH) antibodies and amoebic antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot immunobinding assay (DIB). Both techniques were found to be equally sensitive for detecting antiamoebic antibodies (89.5 and 91.9% respectively) and highly specific (100%) in patients of ALA. ELISA was found to be more sensitive (94.4%) in detecting circulating amoebic antigen compared to DIB (68%) in patients of ALA. Specific antibodies, in significant levels, were detected in 3 and 5 patients of AD by ELISA and DIB assay, respectively. As DIB assay is easier to perform and less expensive, is recommended for detection of antibodies in patients with invasive amoebiasis.