A Simplified Method for Preparation of Antigens of Japanese Fasciola sp. for Double Immunodifusion

Abstract

Detergents (Triton X-100, Nonidet P-40, sodium dodecylsulfate, and sodium deoxycholate) were used for extraction of fluke antigens of Japanese Fasciola sp. to simplify the preparation of antigens for the double immunodiffusion test. The precipitation patterns of the antigens extracted with Triton X-100 or Nonidet P-40 accorded with those of the antigens extracted with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) against sera of an immunized rabbit, experimentally infected rabbits and naturally infected cattle. None of the Triton X-100, Nonidet P-40, and PBS antigens reacted with sera of normal rabbits or calves. On the other hand, the antigens extracted with sodium dodecylsulfate or sodium deoxycholate showed precipitation patterns different from those shown by the PBS antigen against the rabbit antiserum and reacted with normal rabbit sera. The differences among the Triton X-100, Nonidet P-40, and PBS antigens were limited in the detection of precipitating antibodies of experimentally infected rabbits, drug-treated rabbits, and cattle in the field. Extraction of Fasciola sp. fluke antigens with Triton X-100 or Nonidet P-40 was simple and useful for immunodiffusion tests for diagnosis of fascioliasis.