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Expression of an Onchocerca volvulus Ov33 homolog in Dirofilaria immitis : potential in immunodiagnosis of heartworm infection
Author(s) -
MEJIA J. SANTIAGO,
NKENFOU CELINE,
SOUTHWORTH MAURICE W.,
PERLER FRANCINE B.,
CARLOW CLOTILDE K. S.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3024.1994.tb00352.x
Subject(s) - dirofilaria immitis , onchocerca volvulus , biology , onchocerciasis , immunology , dirofilaria , filarioidea , onchocerca , helminths , helminthiasis , filariasis , virology
SUMMARY In this study, the expression of an Onchocerca volvulus Ov33 homolog was demonstrated in Dirofilaria immitis. Rabbit antiserum raised against a recombinant fusion protein of O. volvulus , MBP/OvD 5B (Ov33), was found to react with a 31–33 kDa glycoprotein (DiT33) of adult worms of D. immitis . An antibody response to MBP/OvD 5B was observed in dogs, as early as 11 weeks post infection with infective larvae of D. immitis , and in dogs with occult infection. Cats both experimentally and naturally infected with D. immitis also reacted strongly with the recombinant antigen. In contrast, sera from dogs receiving chemically‐abbreviated infection or from animals harbouring a variety of other helminths failed to react. These data suggest that antibody responses generated by DiT33 may have potential in immunodiagnosis of heartworm infection in cats and dogs.