Analysis of Fasciola sp. antigen by enzyme-linked immunotransfer blot using sera from experimentally and naturally infected cattle.

Soluble polypeptides extracted from adult Fasciola sp. were analysed by SDS-PAGE, and their antigenicity was characterized by enzyme-linked immunotransfer blot (EITB) using sera from experimentally and naturally infected cattle. Polypeptides of adult Fasciola sp. with estimated molecular mass of 64-52 kDa, 38-28 kDa, 17 kDa, 15 kDa, 13 kDa and 12 kDa, were recognized by sera obtained in both early and late stages of infection. Furthermore, two polypeptides of more than 160 kDa were detected by sera only in the early stage of infection. The results of EITB using sera of dairy cows naturally infected with Fasciola sp. suggest that polypeptides of 64-52 kDa may be candidates as serodiagnostic antigen of bovine fascioliasis.