Blood test for opisthorchiasis - decoding, features of preparation and recommendations

Often there are situations when, when contacting a doctor with complaints of an allergic reaction or diseases of the gallbladder and liver, a blood test for opisthorchiasis is prescribed. The study helps to identify the presence of special helminths in the human body that provoke the disease. How pathology is manifested and what tests should be taken for opisthorchiasis, we will analyze in the article.

Disease definition

Opisthorchiasis is a dangerous parasitic disease. It is called a flatworm - an opisthorchis, which has a size of about 8 mm. It enters the body of a person or other mammal along with river fish, in the tissues of which there were parasite larvae. Opisthorchiasis is especially common in areas where a large amount of raw or thermally unprocessed fish is eaten. Most often, this disease is diagnosed in the peoples of the Far North. It is also possible infection from pets that are fed raw river fish. The parasite can cause serious pathologies that, if untreated, can be fatal, so early diagnosis is so important.

Symptomatology

Signs of the disease begin to appear two to four weeks after infection. The intensity of the signs and the time of their appearance depend on many factors - on the patient’s immunity, the number of parasites, the presence of other diseases, etc. Patients most often complain of the following manifestations of infection:

• Allergic reactions, usually manifested in the form of a rash.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fast fatiguability.
• Weakness.
• Heartburn.
• Pain in the right hypochondrium.
• Diarrhea.
• Increased sweating.
• Pain in the stomach.
• Elevated body temperature, capable of provoking a febrile state.
• Violations of the stool.
• Discoloration of the skin.
• Flatulence.
• Decreased appetite.
• Liver enlargement.
• Headache.
• Dyspnea.
• Enlarged spleen and lymph nodes.

Types of pathology

Currently, experts distinguish two stages of opisthorchiasis. Let's consider them in more detail:

• The acute phase. Occurs in people infected for the first time. Most often, the first signs appear at this stage. Without treatment, it quickly proceeds to the next stage.
• The chronic phase is often found in areas of localization of opisthorchiasis. Symptoms are not as pronounced as in the acute stage. The duration of this phase can reach 15-25 years. At this time, damage to the heart, organs of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and liver occurs. The functioning of the nervous system is disrupted. Symptoms are similar to manifestations of hepatitis. Under the influence of the destructive life of the parasites, the development of other life-threatening diseases is possible.

Features of the course of the disease in children

Opisthorchiasis in children is rarely diagnosed. This is most likely due to the fact that children's food undergoes more thorough heat treatment. If infection has occurred, the main signs will coincide with the manifestations of pathology in adults. But there are still distinctive features. First of all, in children, allergic reactions are more pronounced. Bronchial asthma may develop. Also, with a prolonged course of the disease, blood circulation in small vessels is disturbed, as a result of which cyanosis of the skin, mainly the limbs, is observed. At an early age, children may lag behind in development.

Diagnostics

Since the disease has no specific symptoms, and its manifestations can easily be confused with the signs of other diseases, early diagnosis is very important. For this, instrumental and laboratory studies are used. These include:

• The study of feces. This method can be used in the chronic phase of the disease. The procedure is carried out several times with an interval of 5-7 days. It allows not only to detect the presence of parasites, but also by their number to determine the severity of the disease.
• Detection of adults through endoscopy.
• Probing the digestive tract with an endoscope. Not applicable in children.
• Blood test for opisthorchiasis and giardiasis. This method is performed in different ways, depending on the phase of the disease and the degree of symptoms. The price of a blood test for opisthorchiasis depends on the laboratory and the method of research. For example, the cost of an IFA analysis ranges from 500-900 rubles.
• General urine analysis.
• General blood analysis.
• Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity. It allows to detect the compaction of the walls and ducts of the gallbladder and liver, in which parasites accumulate.
• MRI and CT, which indicate changes in the liver and pancreas.

Decryption of the general blood test

The result of a general blood test may indicate the possibility of a disease at an early stage of its development. In this case, the following deviations in blood counts will be noted:

• An increase in white blood cells involved in the body’s immune response.
• Increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). It says that the immune system responds to an irritant.
• Eosinophils are elevated. Indicates an allergic response to an external stimulus, in this case, helminths.

Blood chemistry

In the diagnosis of opisthorchiasis, a blood test performed in a biochemical way is the most reliable study with which it is possible to identify and also confirm the presence of a disease. When decoding, special attention is paid to certain indicators that indicate damage and malfunction of those organs, which in most cases are affected by parasites. These indicators include:

• An increase in bilirubin, which is transformed by the liver.
• An increase in milase, which is the active substance of the pancreas.
• Increased AST and ALT. This indicator is used to detect liver pathologies.

To detect opisthorchiasis, blood test results will indicate pathological conditions of some internal organs, in particular the liver.

Norms of biochemical analysis

With the development of opisthorchiasis, the standards for blood tests will be violated. This is due to the pathological effect of the parasite on some organs and the state of the whole organism as a whole. Below is a table of normal values ​​of blood parameters in a biochemical study.

When analyzing blood for opisthorchiasis, deviations to the greater side of those indicators that are listed in the table may be a confirmation of the presence of parasites in the body.

Linked immunosorbent assay

It is a serological research method that allows you to determine the presence of parasites until they lay eggs. This is the most accurate way to diagnose the acute stage of the disease, in which antibodies to helminths are detected. The sensitivity in this case is almost 100%. If the disease has passed into the chronic phase, an ELISA will be used as an additional diagnostic tool.

It is worth noting that a blood test for opisthorchiasis, performed by this method, can give a false positive or false negative result.

False positive is determined with the following diseases:

• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Pathology of the gallbladder, liver and their ducts.
• Toxoplasmosis.
• Some diseases of the respiratory tract.

A false negative result can be detected:

• With immunodeficiency conditions.
• Some chronic diseases.
• Taking certain medications, including antibiotics and chemotherapy.

In a healthy person, antibodies to opisthorchis are not detected. After the first infection , IgM antibodies are detected in the blood , which are more observed in the first two weeks after infection. Then IgG appears. It is worth noting that the longer the parasites are in the body, the less antibodies are detected.

If you know the norms of a blood test for opisthorchiasis, decryption will not be difficult. Especially if an additional set of examinations is carried out.

IFA decryption

Deciphering the results should be done by a qualified specialist. With the ELISA method, indicators such as IgM, IgG, IgA are used.

After recovery, IgG is still being diagnosed for some time. Completely negative values ​​are determined six months after the complete cleansing of the body.

PCR diagnosis of opisthorchiasis

How to donate blood for analysis in this case? The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method allows the detection of parasite DNA. This method has great accuracy and information. Deciphering a blood test for opisthorchiasis should be done only by a qualified specialist. For PCR analysis, both blood and other biological fluids are suitable.

Preparing for the test

To get a more accurate result of a blood test for opisthorchiasis, some rules must be observed before the procedure. Let's consider them in more detail:

• All types of blood tests are given on an empty stomach.
• About 12 hours before the procedure, it is not recommended to eat.
• For a day, exclude medication.
• For 2 days, follow a diet, avoiding the use of spicy, flour, fatty and smoked dishes.
• Do not drink alcohol 2-3 days before the test.
• 3 days before the procedure, exclude products from the diet that can cause increased gas formation.
• The day before the blood sampling there is no sweets.

Possible treatment

If a blood test for opisthorchiasis revealed a positive result, it is necessary to start therapy as soon as possible. For a more effective treatment result, an integrated approach is used, including both drug therapy and a special diet that can reduce the burden on the digestive system.

The drugs used to treat opisthorchiasis include the following categories of drugs:

• Anthelmintic, the action of which is aimed at the destruction of the parasite.
• Antihistamines that help fight the effects of parasitic waste products.
• Cholagogue drugs. Contribute to the elimination of dead helminths from the body.
• Sorbents that help fight dangerous toxins from parasites.
• Hepatoprotectors that help restore the gallbladder, liver and their ducts.
• Antispasmodics.
• Painkillers to relieve symptoms.
• Antibiotics for secondary infection.
• As an additional treatment, decoctions of choleretic herbs and raw pumpkin seeds can be used.

Conclusion

In this article, we received the answer to the question of whether it is possible to detect opisthorchiasis by blood analysis. It is important to note that this disease is very dangerous. If untreated, health and life-threatening complications can occur. The disease develops very rapidly, and with reduced immunity or childhood, the toxic effect on the body increases significantly.

Opisthorchis can die only when exposed to high temperatures, so it is necessary to conduct high-quality heat treatment of river fish. All tools used during cutting and processing must be disinfected with boiling water.

Currently, there are qualitative tests to detect parasites at an early stage of infection. It is recommended to consult a doctor at the first symptoms of infection.