Rapid Single-Step Immunochromatographic Assay for Angiostrongylus cantonensis Specific Antigen Detection.

is the major etiological nematode parasite causing eosinophilic meningitis and/or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. The rapid global spread of and the emerging occurrence of the infection have exposed the shortcomings of traditional/conventional diagnostics. This has spurred efforts to develop faster, simpler and more scalable platforms that can be decentralized for point-of-need laboratory testing. By far, the point-of-care immunoassays such as the lateral flow assay (LFA) are the best-placed. In this work, a LFA in the form of an immunochromatographic test device (designated AgQuick), based on the detection of a circulating -derived antigen, was established using anti-31 kDa antibody as the capture reagent and anti- polyclonal antibody as the indicator reagent. The AgQuick was evaluated for its diagnostic potential with a total of 20 cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) and 105 serum samples from patients with angiostrongyliasis and other clinically related parasitic diseases, as well as serum samples from normal healthy subjects. Three of the ten CSF samples from serologically confirmed angiostrongyliasis cases and two of the five suspected cases with negative anti- antibodies showed a positive AgQuick reaction. Likewise, the AgQuick was able to detect specific antigens in four serum samples of the 27 serologically confirmed angiostrongyliasis cases. No positive reaction by AgQuick was observed in any of the CSF ( = 5) and serum ( = 43) samples with other parasitic infections, or the normal healthy controls ( = 35). The AgQuick enabled the rapid detection of active/acute infection. It is easy to use, can be transported at room temperature and does not require refrigeration for long-term stability over a wide range of climate. It can supplement existing diagnostic tests for neuroangiostrongyliasis under clinical or field environments, particularly in remote and resource-poor areas.