A comparative study of four immunological tests used for anti-Cysticercus antibodies detection - Enzyme-Linked immunoSorbent Assay IgG (ELISA-G) and IgMi (ELISA-M), indirect immunofluorescence (RIFI) and complement fixation (RFC) - was made in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). 539 patients with symptoms suggesting cysticercosis, 450 relatives of these patients and 133 normal people (control group) were examined. 1122 serum samples and 120 CSF samples were analysed by ELISA-G and RIFI, 83 sera and 60 CSF also by RFC, and 28 CSF by ELISA-M. 5.2% serum samples were reagent in ELISA-G and RIFI, and 3.5% of them had discordant results. All control group sera were negative. The same tests in CSF were positive in 16.7% and had discordant results in 7.5%. ELISA-G and RIFI in serum and CSF had concordant results in 89.6% (17.7% were positive). ELISA-G, RIFI and RFC had concordant results in 54.2% sera (16.9% positives) and in 81.7% CSF (11.7% positives). When ELISA-G and RIFI were negative, RFC was positive in 41.0% sera and 11.7% CSF. ELISA-G and ELISA-M had concordant results in 78.6% CSF. When these results were discordant ELISA - G was positive in 10.7% and ELISA -M in another 10.7%. I t is necessary tc use concomitantly several immunological tests for &nti-€ysticercus antibodies detection in serum and in CSF, in attempting to reach correct diagnosis.
cysticercosis; immunodiagnosis; indirect immunoflorescence; ELISA ( IgG and IgM ); complement fixation; cerebrospinal fluid; serum