The Hamster Model for Identification of Specific Antigens ofTaenia soliumTapeworms

Abstract

Humans acquire taeniasis by ingesting pork meat infected withTaenia soliumcysticerci, which are the only definitive hosts of the adult stage (tapeworm) and responsible for transmitting the human and porcine cysticercosis. Hence, detection of human tapeworm carriers is a key element in the development of viable strategies to control the disease. This paper presents the identification of specific antigens using sera from hamsters infected withT. soliumtapeworms analyzed by western blot assay with crude extracts (CEs) and excretion-secretion antigens (E/S Ag) obtained fromT. soliumcysticerci and tapeworms and extracts from other helminthes as controls. The hamster sera infected withT. soliumtapeworms recognized specific bands of 72, 48, 36, and 24 kDa, in percentages of 81, 81, 90, and 88%, respectively, using theT. soliumtapeworms E/S Ag. The antigens recognized by these hamster sera could be candidates to improve diagnosis of humanT. soliumtaeniasis.