DEVELOPMENT OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZING THE CYST STAGE OF ENTAMOEBA-HISTOLYTICA

Protozoan cysts were isolated according to a two-step sucrose gradient procedure. Pure cysts of Entamoeba histolytica, in fixed and native s tates, were injected into BALB/c mice intraperitoneally for immunizati on. The spleens of these animals were used for fusion with AG8 mouse m yeloma cells. Hybridomas were obtained and tested for the recognition of E. histolytica, E. dispar, E. coli, E. hartmanni, Endolimax nana Jo damoeba butschlii, and Giardia lamblia. Three monoclonal antibodies we re identified that reacted only with cysts and trophozoites of E. hist olytica. These can be used for differentiation and identification of E . histolytica in feces.