Abstract

Crude and partially purified somatic (s) and excretory-secretory (Es) antigens of Fasciola hepatica were subjected to Western blot analysis in order to identify polypeptides that would enable specific and sensitive immunodiagnosis of horse and pig fasciolosis to be undertaken. Sera from 20 horses and 20 pigs with natural infections of F. hepatica and the same number of uninfected hosts of each species were tested, together with sero from 2 pigs with Cysticercus cellulosae infections. Using crude S antigens, sera from infected horses and pigs reacted specifically with a wide range of polypeptides of 14-19, 22-30, 35-37 and 42kDa. Likewise, specific reactivity between polypeptides of 14-17, 22-30 and 40-42kDa in crude ES antigens and sero from infected horses and pigs was obtained. Against the criteria of high sensitivity and specificity, the 22-30-kDa polypeptides would appear to be the most suitable candidate antigens for use in the immunodiagnosis of fasciolosis in horses and pigs.