USE OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES PREPARED AGAINST SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI HATCHING FLUID ANTIGENS FOR DEMONSTRATION OF SCHISTOSOMA-HAEMATOBIUM CIRCULATING EGG ANTIGENS IN URINE

A panel of 17 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Schistosoma soluble egg antigens (SEAs) was produced from BALB/c mice immunized with anti gens secreted/excreted by Schistosoma mansoni eggs. In this study, we demonstrate that 16 MAbs were reactive with S. haematobium SEA in addi tion to S. mansoni SEA. The MAbs were tested as potential immunodiagno stic reagents in a homologous sandwich ELISA format to detect circulat ing soluble egg antigens (CSEAs) in serum and urine samples of S. mans oni-or S. haematobium-infected individuals. When samples of S. mansoni -infected individuals were tested, none of these MAbs performed as goo d as the previously described S. mansoni-specific 114-5B1-A and 114-4D 12-A MAbs. However, 11 MAbs (of the IgM isotype) detected CSEA in urin e samples of S. haematobium-infected individuals. Three MAbs, 290-2E6- A, 291-3D5-A, and 291-5D5-A, were selected for a pilot study with 47 u rine samples of S. haematobium-infected individuals from Kenya. The CS EA levels detected with each of these ELISAs showed a significant corr elation with urinary egg counts (Spearman rho > 0.37, P < 0.01) and wi th each other (Spearman rho > 0.74, P < 0.001). Based on the 92% speci ficity and 90% sensitivity of the assay, the ELISA using MAb 290-2E6-A was found to be the most promising assay for immunodiagnosis of S. ha ematobium infections.