Specific diagnostic antigens of Echinococcus granulosus detected by western blot.

A western blot assay was performed for the detection of Echinococcus granulosus specific antigens useful for the diagnostic of hydatic disease. 191 sera were tested, 105 coming from patients with different localizations of hydatic cysts and 86 from persons either healthy or presenting other diseases. 48 different antigenic bands were detected using sera from patients with hydatidosis. A 35 kDa antigen co-migrating with a band labeled by a McAb specific of antigen 5 was recognized in western blot by only 68% of the sera able to precipitate antigen 5 in immunoelectrophoresis. A 8 kDa antigen corresponding to the specific E. granulosus antigen already described has been recognized by 80% of the sera coming from patients with hydatidosis and not by the 86 control sera. Bands of 21, 30, and 92 kDa appeared also specific and were recognized by at least 50% of tested sera. These antigens appeared unrelated one to each other. 103 out of the 105 sera from patients with hydatidosis were able to recognize at least one of the 8, 21, 30, 35 or 92 kDa specific antigens. The present results suggest that western blot could be useful for the diagnosis of hydatidosis as far as the criteria of positivity is based on the recognition of at least one of the major specific antigens.