Evaluation of Antigenic Cross - reactivity amongst strongylid nematodes using enzyme linked Immuno Sorbent Assay

Cross-reactivity amongst strongylid nematodes viz., Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum columbianum and Bunostomum trigonocephalum was evaluated by ELISA. Two antigens namely soluble extract antigen (SEA) and gut integral membrane antigen (GIMA) were prepared and hyper immune sera were raised in rabbits against SEA of three referral nematodes. Based on ELISA reactivity, it was observed that the SEA of H. contortus showed 56.4 and 42.6% cross-reactivity with B. trigonocephalum and O. columbianum. The GIMA of H. contortus revealed 42.0 and 34.6% cross-reactivity with B. trignocephalum and O. columbianum. Similarly, the SEA of O. columbianum showed 62.0 and 44.0% cross-reactivity with B. trigonocephalum and H. contortus whereas, the GIMA of O. columbianum showed 51.2 and 33.8% cross- reactivity with B. trigonocephalum and H. contortus. The SEA of B. trigonocephalum revealed 41.0 and 52.0% cross – reactivity with O. columbianum and H. contortus whereas, the GIMA of B. trigonocephalum showed 37.0 and 45.0% cross-reactivity with O. columbianum and H. contortus.