1Post Graduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences, Kattupakkam
2Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, MVC
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College (MVC), Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai-600051, Tamil Nadu
*Corresponding author. Email: abiramivet@gmail.com
Online published on 21 February, 2019.
An immunoassay (Dot-ELISA) for diagnosis of cysticercosis in pigs using the excretory-secretory antigen (ES) and somatic antigens of Cysticercus cellulosae was standardized. Antigens were prepared from the cysts isolated from a spontaneous case of severe cysticercosis in a desi pig. Blood samples were collected from pigs slaughtered at local slaughter houses and organized and unorganized pig farms in and around Chennai. A total of 175 pig sera were screened for antibodies against C. cellulosae. Dot-ELISA was standardized using both antigens of C. cellulosae by checker board titration method. The results indicated 46 (26.28%) positive cases with E/S antigen whereas somatic antigen could detect 29 (16.57%) samples as positive. The immunoassay, using the ES antigen, can present a rapid and inexpensive alternative for the diagnosis of cysticercosis due to C. cellulosae in pigs and possibly humans.
Pigs, Cysticercosis, Immunoassay, Excretory-secretory antigens, Dot-ELISA
