Use of Immunologic Techniques to Detect Chemotherapeutic Success in Infections with Fasciola hepatica II. The Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay in Infected Rats and Rabbits

Abstract

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using microtiter plates for the immunodiagnosis of fascioliasis [caused by F. hepatica] in rats and rabbits using extracts of adult worms partially purified by gel filtration chromatography using Sephacryl S-200. Partial purification was necessary to eliminate cross-reactivity with antisera having antibodies to schistosomes [Schistosoma mansoni]. Soft polyvinyl plates clearly gave superior results over hard polystyrene plates. Titers rose by 4 wk of infection in rats with fascioliasis, by 6 wk in the case of rabbits, and remained high through at least 12 and 28 wk, respectively. Titers drop rapidly when animals are successfully treated with a fasciolicidal drug at 4-6 wk of infection. The ELISA can be employed for the serodiagnosis of fascioliasis in rats and rabbits and is useful for the prediction of chemotherapeutic success.