S. Tuntipopipat et al., A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR THE FRACTIONATION OF GNATHOSTOMA-SPECIFIC ANTIGENS FOR SERODIAGNOSIS OF HUMAN GNATHOSTOMOSIS, Journal of Helminthology, 67(4), 1993, pp. 297-304
Specific immunoreactive components present in crude somatic extract an
d in excretory-secretory (ES) products of Gnathostoma spinigerum advan
ced third-stage larvae (L3) were identified by Western blotting and th
eir diagnostic potential evaluated by indirect ELISA. Although both cr
ude antigen preparations were highly complex, the ES antigen gave a mo
re satisfactory diagnostic result. Most G. spinigerum specific compone
nts present in the somatic and ES preparations had molecular weights b
elow 29 kD and were not glycosylated, judging from the concanavalin A
staining pattern. Specific diagnostic antigens were prepared by subjec
ting the crude preparations to SDS-PAGE. Low molecular weight componen
ts were identified and electroeluted from the gel. Excess SDS was remo
ved by the use of an ion retardation resin. The antigens obtained by t
his relatively simple procedure were found to be highly specific for G
. spinigerum. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative pred
ictive values for the assay using the fractionated somatic antigen wer
e 100%.