Opisthorchiasis is a parasitic disease affecting the liver. The causative agent is the trematode Opisthorchis felineus. The early stage of the disease manifests itself in the form of acute allergies (skin rashes, itching, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, etc.). The late stage of opisthorchiasis is accompanied by damage to the liver and biliary tract. If the parasite does not secrete eggs that exit through the intestines, the only diagnostic method is to examine the blood serum for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies. 


The sensitivity of such a serological method in the acute phase approaches almost 100%, and in the chronic phase – about 70%, which depends on the number of pathogens and individual characteristics of the body.


The analysis relates to the serological diagnosis of genital infections. The test material is blood, in which antibodies to the pathogen are detected. Antibodies are components of the body's immune system that are produced to destroy a particular foreign protein-antigen. In this case, the antigen is opisthorchia (Opisthorchis felineus).

There are several types of antibodies:

• IgA
• IgD
• IgE
• IgG
• IgM

However, the immune system cannot always cope with Opisthorchosis, even with very high concentrations of antibodies. Each of these antibodies has its own function and its own period of occurrence. IgM is produced after a week and reaches its maximum after 15 days. After 6-8 weeks, its concentration begins to decrease rapidly. Thus, the test is necessary to identify the acute stage of the course of opisthorchiasis. 


False positive test results are possible for the following diseases:

• Toxoplasmosis – 5,6%
  
• Toxocarosis – 7.3%
  
• Echinococcosis – 15.4%
  
• Trichinosis – 20.0%
  
• Fascioliasis - 29.4%