Diagnosis
Reliable diagnosis of fluke infections relies on demonstrating parasite eggs in faeces, duodenal liquid, or sputum, aiding in species identification and assessing infection intensity [PMID:6391499]. However, this method is limited in detecting mild infections due to variability and low egg count [PMID:6391499].
Recent advances in serodiagnosis, especially for Fasciola hepatica, using excreted-secreted antigens, enhance specificity [PMID:6391499]. However, cross-reactions among different fluke species and with Schistosoma mansoni complicate interpretation [PMID:6391499].
Differential Diagnosis
Serological tests for fluke infections exhibit cross-reactions among Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica, Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, and Paragonimus spp., necessitating careful interpretation to avoid misdiagnosis [PMID:6391499].
References
1 Ambroise-Thomas P, Goullier A. Parasitological examinations and immunodiagnostic advances in fluke infections. Arzneimittel-Forschung 1984. link
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