Toxocaral larva migrans: the use of larval secretory antigens in haemagglutination and soluble antigen fluorescent antibody tests.

Toxocara larval excretions and secretions collected from in vitro culture were used as antigen in passive haemagglutination and soluble antigen fluorescent antibody tests for the diagnosis of visceral larva migrans in experimental animals and man. Antibody to toxocaral secretions was detected in rabbits within 13 days of light Toxocara infection (ten larvae per kg) and within four days of heavy infection (10(4) larvae). Antibody was not detected following infection with 10(4) Ascaris suum larvae. In human sera, antibody was detected at low titre in 1% of 100 healthy adults and in 2% of 50 children. High titres were observed in one third of 170 patients with suspected visceral larva migrans and in 23 of 27 such patients presenting with an eosinophilia greater than 20%. In 25 patients with ocular lesions of an undiagnosed nature, four showed significant levels of anti-Toxocara antibody.