Cloning and expression of Toxocara canis arginine kinase recombinant protein for serodetection of toxocarosis in dogs

Toxocarosis is a widespread zoonosis caused by the ascarid Toxocara canis. Serodiagnosis of toxocarosis is carried out using Toxocara excretory-secretory and recombinant antigens. In the present study T. canis arginine kinase gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, cloned in a prokaryotic expression vector and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was used in IgG-ELISA for detection of T. canis infection in the adult dogs. Further evaluation of this recombinant antigen in the diagnosis of T. canis infection in dogs is under way.