[Comparative analysis between the circumoval precipitin test and ELISA with raw antigens for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis in Venezuela].

Schistosomiasis has special characteristics in Venezuela, since the majority of the infected population is asymptomatic and the elimination of eggs is very low, difficulting in this way parasitologic diagnosis. It is thus necessary to develop sensitive and specific immunologic methods to be applied in field surveys. The present study compares two serologic tests for Schistosomiasis, the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with eggs (SEA) and adult (AWA) antigens and the traditional circumoval precipitation test (COPT). Sensitivity and specificity of the test were performed being 100% and 92% in COPT, 79% and 71% in ELISA-SEA and 71% and 91% in ELISA-AWA respectively. Advantages and disadvantages of each test are discussed.