Identification, isolation, and characterization of a species-specific 30-kDa antigen of Oesophagostomum dentatum

In the search for a serology tool for the diagnosis of nonpatent as well as patent infections with Oesophagostomum dentatum in pigs a water-soluble, u nglycosilated antigen of about 30 kDa specific for the third-stage larvae o f the parasite was purified by ion-exchange chromatography. In Western blot s, the antigen was first detected by antibodies at day 7 postinfection. Cro ss-reactivity with O. quadrispinulatum, Ascaris suum, or Trichuris suis was not detected. It is suggested that this protein is a suitable tool for the species-specific serodiagnosis of O. dentatum infection in pigs.