Evaluation of Dot-ELISA and western blot tests for the diagnosis of porcine cysticercosis Rao K. Srinivasa*, Md. Hafeez, Sreedevi C. Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupathi-517502, Andhra Pradesh *Corresponding author. Email: vasukvet@yahoo.com
Online Published on 22 August, 2023. Abstract Dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Dot-ELISA) and enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) were employed for serodiagnosis of porcine cysticercosis using whole cyst antigen (WCA) and fractionated scolex antigen (FSA) preparations of Taenia solium metacestodes. Serum samples from 50 pigs with confirmed cysticercosis and 200 healthy pigs were tested by both the assays. Specificity of the tests was examined by testing 30 serum samples from pigs maintained hygienically under a central scheme, with no history of cysticercosis and serum from pigs with confirmed hydatid and T. hydatigena infections (n=20). Cross-reaction was observed in five (25%) and two (10%) out of 20 hydatidosis and T. hydatigena positive pigs with WCA by Dot-ELISA and EITB assay, respectively. None of the sample from healthy control reacted to any of the WCA and FSA diagnostic bands or in Dot-ELISA. The EITB assay was 96% sensitive and 96% and 100% specific with WCA and FSA preparations, respectively. Seven polypeptides (97, 68, 43, 29, 20, 14.3 and 6.8 kDa) were identified by SDS-PAGE and EITB that were specifically reactive to serum from pigs with confirmed cysticercosis. The highest diagnostic accuracy (98%) was obtained with FSA-EITB. The sensitivity and specificity of the Dot-ELISA was 88 and 92% and 90 and 100% with WCA and FSA preparations, respectively. For its high sensitivity and specificity, FSA-Dot ELISA may be acceptable for practical use at field level in low resource settings. Top Keywords Porcine cysticercosis, Whole cyst antigen (WCA), Fractionated scolex antigen (FSA), Dot-ELISA, Western blot. Top |