Paragonimus IgM ELISA Kit
The Paragonimus IgM ELISA Kit is a semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) designed for detecting IgM antibodies specific to Paragonimus species in human serum or plasma samples. This kit is intended for early diagnosis of paragonimiasis and is to be used by trained medical technologists.
Paragonimus is a parasitic lung fluke that infects humans and animals through consumption of raw or undercooked crab or crayfish. It is prevalent in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central/South America, with sporadic cases reported in the United States linked to eating raw crayfish during river rafting trips. Once ingested, the larvae migrate through the body and settle primarily in the lungs, maturing into adult flukes within 6-10 weeks. Severe cases involve migration to the central nervous system, causing symptoms like meningitis.
Early symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal pain, followed by fever, chest pain, and fatigue. Coughing typically begins as dry and progresses to rusty-colored or blood-tinged sputum, mimicking tuberculosis symptoms. This kit uses Paragonimus antigens coated on microplates to detect IgM antibodies, enabling reliable diagnosis of acute infections. Results can be read visually or with an ELISA reader.