Diagnostic use of Polyclonal Antibodies Raised in Mouse Ascitic Fluid in Bancroftian Filariasis

摘要

Polyclonal antibodies were produced againstBrugia malayiadult antigens (BmA(PBS) SAg andBmA(SDS) SAg) in mouse ascitic fluid by immunising Balb/c mice intraperitoneally with high ratio of adjuvant to immunogen. The diagnostic use of these antibodies in detecting circulating filarial antigen in bancroftian filariasis was studied by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (sandwich ELISA) using stick assay system. Both antibodies raised against PBS and SDS soluble antigens were found to be equally sensitive and relatively specific in detection of circulating filarial antigen. When antiBmA(PBS) SAg antibody was used in sandwich ELISA, 90 of microfilaraemic sera, 30#x2013;40 of acute and sub acute filarial sera, 20 of chronic filarial sera, 7 of endemic normal sera and none of 15 non-endemic normal sera were positive for filarial antigen. Using antiBmA(SDS) SAg antibody, 93 of microfilarial sera, 40 of acute and sub acute filarial sera, 20 of chronic filarial sera and none of 15 endemic and non-endemic normal sera showed the presence of filarial antigen. The filarial antigen detection using antiBmAS Ag antibodies produced in mouse ascitic fluid in sandwich ELISA may be useful in detection of active stage (microfilaraemia) of infection.