Immunological diagnosis of echinococcosis

Our results with the immunofluorescence technique in the diagnosis of hydatid disease are reported. The sera of 28 patients with surgically proven hydatid disease, of 30 healthy individuals, and of 1 patient with cysticercosis were used. With a dilution of 1:100 a sensitivity of 96% was obtained in the patients affected by the disease. In the control group all but one of the sera were negative. A brief review of the immunological methods used at present for the diagnosis of echinococcosis is made. The most important problems connected with the immunodiagnosis of this disease are discussed.