Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common zoonotic infection caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus. The disease is found worldwide, and Iran is considered an endemic area. Depending on the affected organ, the disease presents with different clinical signs and symptoms. Humans are regarded as dead-end intermediate hosts. CE cysts commonly develop in the liver and lungs, while they are less frequently found in other organs. Timely diagnosis of this disease is essential in humans. Diagnosis relies on imaging methods (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, and CT scan), complemented by serological testing. The present study used the indirect ELISA method to compare the efficacy of in-house-produced antigen B (AgB) and a domestic commercial kit. Hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) was extracted from the liver of sheep infected with a cystic echinococcosis cyst, followed by the preparation of AgB. It was used in the indirect ELISA test. A total of 142 sera, consisting of 36 samples from patients with pathologically confirmed CE, 46 samples from patients with other parasitic diseases, and 60 samples from healthy individuals, were examined using in-house-produced AgB and a domestic commercial ELISA kit. Our findings revealed the sensitivity and specificity of the indirect ELISA using in-house AgB to be 86.11% and 95.28%, respectively. The commercial kit demonstrated a sensitivity of 77.78% and a specificity of 99.06%. Although both the in-house-produced AgB and the commercial kit showed considerable and relatively similar diagnostic efficiency, the study results showed a higher sensitivity and validity of AgB compared with the commercial ELISA kit.