An Egg-negative Patient of Acute Metagonimiasis Diagnosed Serologically by ELISA

Abstract

A 46-year old male was admitted to Seoul National University Hospital with the clinical complaints of fatigue, watery diarrhea and abdominal discomfort for 15 days, Trematode infection especially metagonimiasis, was suspected because of his recent history of consumption of raw sweetfish, the intermediate host of Metagonimus vokoqauiai. Repeated fecal examination revealed no eggs. Serological test by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) exhibited positive antibody level for M. yokogawai antigen, The diagnosis was confirmed by recovery of 110 adult specimens of M, yokogawai expelled after chemotherapy with praziquantel. The present patient shows that serological diagnosis is necessary in some cases of metagonimiasis.