Kinetics of antibody-based antigen detection in serum and faeces of sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica (vol 86, pg 23, 1999)

The monoclonal antibody ES78 was used in a sandwich immunosorbent assay (Sa ndwich ELISA) for the detection of antigens in sera and faeces in the cours e of Fasciola hepatica infection in 10 experimentally infected sheep. All i nfected sheep had circulating antigens in the first week post-infection (WP I). Antigenemia was detectable until WPI 3 in four infected sheep, WPI 4 in five infected sheep and in only one sheep by WPI 5. The detection of copro antigens (Fa(g)) was possible in five infected sheep at WPI-4, in four shee p at WPI-5 and in one sheep only at WPI-6. This technique was compared to a n indirect ELISA for the detection of antibodies using excretory secretory antigens of F. hepatica. A significant correlation was found between Fa(g) and egg output and also with adult worm numbers. Our method demonstrated th at the diagnosis of active fasciolosis in sheep is possible during all peri ods of infection. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.