Partial Purification of Fasciola hepatica Antigen for the Immunodiagnosis of Fascioliasis in Rats

Abstract

When F. hepatica adult worm antigen is fractionated with Sephadex G-200, 4 major peaks are obtained. The 1st peak, when used as antigen in counterelectrophoresis [CEP], reacts with the serum of normal rats as well as from rats infected with F. hepatica for .gtoreq. 5 wk. The crest and descending portion of peaks II and III peak are nonreactive with normal rat serum, but highly reactive with the serum of rats with F. hepatica. F. hepatica antigens cross-reacting with S. mansoni adult worm antisera are absent in these fractions. These fractions of F. hepatica adult worm antigen may be utilized for the immunodiagnosis of fascioliasis by CEP optimum antigen concentration for this test was .apprx. 1.80 mg/ml protein.