Highly specific and sensitive anti-Strongyloides venezuelensis IgY antibodies applied to the human strongyloidiasis immunodiagnosis

• Published in: Parasitology international Vol. 72; p. 101933
• Main Authors: de Faria, Lucas S., de Souza, Dayane L.N., Ribeiro, Raphaella P., de Sousa, José Eduardo N., Borges, Isabela P., Ávila, Veridiana M.R., Ferreira-Júnior, Álvaro, Goulart, Luiz Ricardo, Costa-Cruz, Julia M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Immune complexes; Immunodiagnostic; Immunoglobulin Y; Strongyloides stercoralis; Immunoglobulin Y; Immunodiagnostic; Immune complexes; Strongyloides stercoralis
• ISSN: 1383-5769; 1873-0329
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.101933

Due to the epidemiological problem of the neglected condition of human strongyloidiasis, rapid and effective diagnosis is extremely important, with the development of new diagnostic tools being essential to reduce infections and chronic cases. Avian immunoglobulin Y (IgY) technology is an alternative for antibody production that has high specificity and profitability. This study aimed to produce and fractionate IgY antibodies from the egg yolks of hens that were immunized with the total antigenic extracts of Strongyloides venezuelensis infectious filariform larvae (iL3) and parthenogenetic females (pF). IgY antibodies were then evaluated by their recognition of antigenic proteins, evolutive helminth forms, and serological diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis by the detection of immune complexes in serum samples. Egg yolks were fractionated to obtain IgY antibodies by thiophilic interaction chromatography. Immune complex detection in serum samples showed diagnostic values for anti-iL3 IgY and anti-pF IgY antibodies at 95.56% and 88.89% sensitivity and 95.56% and 91.11% specificity, respectively. Therefore, IgY technology is a promising tool for the detection of blood circulating Strongyloides antigens, with possible application as a serological diagnostic method. [Display omitted] •The first production of polyclonal IgY antibodies against Strongyloides venezuelensis•IgY antibodies were fractionated from egg yolks with high yield and purity.•IgY antibodies applied in the immunodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis.•A new tool for the study of experimental strongyloidiasis