The Casoni test is a skin test used in the diagnosis of hydatid disease

Echinococcosis

Echinococcosis, which is often referred to as hydatid disease or echinococcal disease, is a parasitic disease that affects both humans and other mammals, such as sheep, dogs, rodents and horses. There are three different forms of echinococcosis found in humans, each of which is caused by the larval...

. The test involves the intradermal injection of sterilised fluid from hydatid cysts. A wheal response

Wheal

Wheal may refer to:*Wheal response, a cutaneous condition left by a blow or as part of an allergic reaction*Wheal, a Cornish mine...

 occurring at the injection site within 20 minutes is considered positive. The test is positive in about 90% of cases of hydatid disease affecting the liver, but positive in less than 50% of patients with hydatid disease elsewhere in the body; false positive results are also common. Consequently, serological tests

Serology

Serology is the scientific study of blood serum and other bodily fluids. In practice, the term usually refers to the diagnostic identification of antibodies in the serum...

 are now generally used.

The test was described in 1912 by Tomaso Casoni

Tomaso Casoni

Tomaso Casoni was an Italian physician remembered for describing the Casoni test for the diagnosis of hydatid disease.- Biography :...

.