Cross-reaction among filarial species in hemagglutination test
Fujita, K.; Tanaka, H.; Sasa, M.; Shichinohe, K.; Asai, Y.
Japanese Journal of Experimental Medicine 40(2): 67-77
1970
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-5031 PMID: 5311234 Document Number: 27816
Seven different types of antigen prepared from freeze-dried Dirofilaria immitis were tested for sensitivity and specificity by the haemagglutination test. The antigens were a phosphate-buffered saline extract, an acid-soluble fraction, an acid-insoluble fraction, an alkaline extract, an ethanol extract, a Chaffee's Coca solution and a Davies antigen. The ethanol-extract antigen was the best for sensitivity against serum of a rabbit immunized with D. immitis, but showed a low detection rate and some false negatives against the serum of dogs infected with D. immitis. Phosphate-buffered saline was the most satisfactory for specificity against the dog serum samples. Cross reactions were studied amongst various species of filariae using phosphate buffered antigens from D. immitis, Litomosoides carinii and Setaria ceryi. Serum samples were collected from human patients infected with Wuchereria bancrofti, cats with Brugia malayi, gerbils with Dipetalonema witei, cattle with Setaria cervi, cotton rats with L. carinii, and dogs with D. immitis. The antigens reacted not only with homologous antiserum but with other filarial serum samples. With human serum there were a few false positive reactions in groups of normal people when antigens derived from D.