Snail derived antigens useful in diagnosis of fascioliasis [electronic resource].

Includes references.

L. cailliaudi feet and hepatopancreases antigens which would be of use as a specific immunodiagnostic test for fascioliasis were evaluated and characterized using ELISA and Western blot techniques. ELISA tests demonstrated the successful detection of F. gigantica IgG antibodies in naturally infected animals using both antigens. But, L. cailliaudi hepatopancreases antigen showed higher sensitivity in antibody detection than L. cailliaudi feet. SDS-PAGE provided evidence of shared antigens between F. gigantica ES, L. cailliaudi feet and L. cailliaudi hepatopancreases antigens. Those observations were extended by demonstrating the value of the antigenic epitopes of L. cailliaudi hepatopancreases in detection of anti-Fasciola antibodies in naturally infected animals using western blot technique. Where, from several polypeptides showed specific reactivity toward F gigantica infected animal sera, the 64 KDa polypeptide was common with F gigantica ES antigen and was not detected in L. cailliaudi feet antigen. This polypeptide might be reinforced the sensitivity of L. cailliaudi hepatopancreases antigen to be higher than that of L. cailliaudi feet antigen. These results suggested that L. cailliaudi hepatopancreases constituted a rich source of antigen for serodiagnostic studies of F. gigaritica. Besides, it was easy to obtain and with a low cost compared to other Fasciola antigens as ES, crude worm and egg.

Summary in Arabic.