[Serological cross-reactions between Echinococcus multilocularis and Dipetalonema viteae infected rodents (author's transl)].

Sera from 30 E. multilocularis infected NMRI-mice and 30 D. viteae infected golden hamsters were tested in the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFAT) and indirect hemagglutination (IHA) tests. In the IFAT there were cross-reactions with all sera, but there were differences between the average titres. While filarial antisera gave higher titres in the homologous system (1:640 against 1:80), it was the opposite with Echinococcus antisera (1:160 against 1:640). Other differences referred to the parasite structures which fluoresced: using Echinococcus antigen the homologous sera gave a bright fluorescence of the outer protoscolex layers including the hooks, while Dipetalonema antisera showed fluorescence of the protoscolex parenchyma only. Thus it is easy to distinguish between homologous and heterologous reactions. Corresponding differences could not be found when using Dipetalonema antigen. In the IHA tests with E. granulosus antigen, which showed an average titre of 1:640 witch E. multilocularis sera, there were few cross-reactions, only 4 out of 30 Dipetalonema antisera giving a positive result.