Studies of fluke infections in Cattle:special reference to the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay(ELISA)as a diagnostic tool for bovine fascioliasis and shistosomiasis
Date
2011-04-01
Authors
Ng'ambi, Lily
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Abstract
Studies on fluke infections in cattle with special
reference to diagnostic methods were carried out. A
suitable diagnostic method was necessary for use to investigate
the prevalence and distribution of Fasciola spp.
and Scliistosoma sj>p. in cattle
The Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), based
on the antibody-antigen reaction was developed and standardised
for sero-diagnosis of fascioliasis and schistose;,nasis in both
experimentally and naturally infected cattle.
Using crude adult worm antigen preparation, the ELISA test
was able to detect antibodies at four weeks post infection in
animals experimentally infected with £. hepa_ti_ca and S>. bovis.
This is several weeks earlier than infection could be detected
by presence of eggs in the faeces. Moreover the ELISA test
was specific for either Fasciola or Schistospma_ infections.
There were no cross-reacting antibodies between the two parasites,
Samples from an abattoir survey which were naturally
infected with _F. gjgantica and ^. mat theej_ were examined by the
ELISA test sedimentation technique. The ELISA test detected 47
percent as positive, while sedimentation technique 29 percent.
No schistosome egges were detected by sedimentation, but the
ELISA test detected antibodies in .48 out of564 samples
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Keywords
Fluke Infections---Cattle