IMMUNOELECTROPHORETIC ANALYSIS OF PARAMPHISTOMID ANTIGENS

Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of paramphistomid antigens from 2 predo minant ruminal flukes Paramphistomum epiclitum and Gastrothylax crumen ifer and a hepatic paramphistome Gigantocotyle explanatum showed a clo se antigenic relationship between the flukes. Three common antigenic c omponents each in whole worm extract antigen (WWE-Ag) and detergent so lubilized antigen (DS-Ag) and 2 in excretory-secretory antigen (ES-Ag) were observed. A notable cross-antigenicity was further demonstrated between P. epiclitum and G. explanatum in WWE-Ag (2 out of 5), DS-Ag ( 4 out of 5) and ES-Ag (2 out of 4) in reciprocal cross-testing. Cross- reacting ES-antigen of G. explanatum with P. epiclitum (2) and G. crum enifer (1) were also in evidence.