Studies on the Serology of Trichinosis with Hemagglutination, Agar Diffusion Tests and Precipitin Ring Tests

Abstract

Rabbit and rat sera obtained after infection with Trichinella spiralis were tested for agglutinins with Boyden''s hemagglutination technique (Boyden, 1951). An acid-soluble protein larval antigen (Melcher, 1943) was used to coat sheep red cells after preliminary treatment with tannic acid. The antigenic components of the antigen were analyzed by double diffusion techniques in agar. Sera were also tested with precipitin ring tests. The hemagglutination test was more sensitive than the precipitin ring test in detecting antibody early in infection in infected rabbits and rats. Agar double diffusion tests indicated that a minimum of 3 antigenic components were present in Melcher''s antigen.