Serological detection of Capillaria hepatica by indirect immunofluorescence assay

In this paper, a serological assay for the detection of antibodies to Capil laria hepatica, a zoonotic parasite, is described. In the past, the only wa y of detecting Capillaria hepatica was to perform a liver biopsy. The indir ect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay, based on liver sections of naturally in fected mice and human serum samples, is suitable for detecting early stages of human infections and for screening purposes. No cross-reactivity with o ther parasitic infections was detected. We have applied the IIF assay to se rum samples of 60 employees of the Zoological Garden of Vienna, Schonbrunn, Austria, and found one positive and one questionable sample.