Immunoperoxidase for the detection of antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid in neurocysticercosis: use of Cysticercus cellulosae and Cysticercus longicollis particles fixed on microscopy slides.

The ORF strain of Cysticercus longicollis represents an important model for the study of heterologous antigens in the immunodiagnosis of neurocysticcreosis (NC). The immunoperoxidase (IP) technique was standardized using a particulate antigen suspension of Cysticercus longicollis (Cl) and Cysitcercus cellulosae (Cc). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were incubated on the antigen fixed to microscopy slides; the conjugate employed was anti-IgG-peroxidase and the enzymatic reaction was started by covering the slides with chromogen solution (diaminobenzidine/H2O2). After washing with distilled water, the slide was stained with 2% malachite green in water. Of the CSF samples from 21 patients with NC, 19 (90.5%) were positive, whereas the 8 CSF samples from the control group (100%) were negative. The results of the [P-C] test applied to 127 CSF samples from patients with suspected NC showed 28.3% reactivity as opposed to 29.1% for the IP-Cc test. The agreement index for the IP test (Cl x Cc) was 94.2%, with no significant difference between the two antigens.