Diagnosis of Cysticercus tenuicollis in sheep and goat by indirect ELISA employing oncosphere antigen

Abstract

Sera from lambs and goats experimentally and naturally infected with Cysticercus tenuicollis were screened for an antibody response to C. tenuicollis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using oncosphere antigen. Antibody response in experimentally infected lambs was first detected on 15 days post-infection (dpi) by 3000 eggs and rose to peak at 60 dpi. While giving similar doses a significant antibody response in kids was first detected on 30 dpi and rose to peak at 50 dpi. In naturally infected cases ELISA could detect infection in 80% (8/10) of lambs and in 77% (10/13) of goats, Among the apparentlty non-infected lambs, 12%(3/25) showed higher S/P values while only only two goats 6.7% (2/30) showed positive S/P values using oncosphere antigen.