Indirect Heamagglutination as An Immunodiagnostic Technique For Cystic Echinococcosis In Iraqi Patients

Abstract

Background: The aim is to determine the effectiveness of indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) as diagnostic techniques for Cystic Echinococcosis in Iraqi and possible correlation of age and gender in disease occurrence. Patients and Methods: Patients presented with clinical manifestation of hydatidosis (202) were selectively enrolled in this study.  IHA technique using sensitized sheep red blood cells coated with an Echinococcus granulosus antigen was applied. Results: One hundred and one patients (50%) were males, with the mean age (33.50±7. 8) years. The rest were females with mean age (29.78±9. 6) years.  IHA positive cases were (19.3% ) and the reminders (80.7%) were negative .IHA positive  females (22.8%) compared with (15.8%) in males without  statistical significant difference (P Value= 0.212) nor correlation between gender and IHA results (P Value= 0.214)  . The majority of patients belongs to (24-30) years ,( 31-36) years and (18-23) years age groups .Among males, higher number of positive cases at (31-36) years followed by (24-30) years and (49-54) years. Among females, higher number of positive cases at(24-30) years followed by (37-42) years  and (18-23) years. Statistical significant difference (P Value= 0.001) reported between genders according to age group distribution without significant correlation between age group according to gender and IHA results (P Value= 0.268). Conclusion: the IHA consider rapid, reliable and adequate technique that make it possible to process a large number of samples simultaneously and that do not require highly trained technical personnel. Females appear to be more susceptible to CE than male especially in younger age groups. Key words: Indirect Haemagglutination, Hydatidosis, age, gender, Iraq