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Use of monoclonal antibodies for detecting T brucei brucei infection in splenectomised dogs
Author(s) -
EgbeNwiyi T. N.,
Antia R. E.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1995.tb02904.x
Subject(s) - antigen , monoclonal antibody , trypanosoma brucei , clearance , medicine , antibody , trypanosomiasis , virology , inoculation , immunology , biology , biochemistry , urology , gene
A monoclonal antibody against a plasma membrane antigen of Trypanosoma rhodesiense was used for the detection of T brucei group‐specific circulating antigen in 24 adult local dogs experimentally infected with T brucei brucei strain 8/18. Ten of the dogs were splenectomised and the remainder non‐splenectomised (intact). Five dogs each from the splenectomised and intact groups were inoculated intravenously with try‐panosomes. The infected dogs developed trypanosomiasis between days 4 and 8 after infection. The circulating antigens were detected as early as six days after infection and remained high until two weeks after treatment, when the circulating antigen declined. The detection of the antigens showed the existence of infection unlike the antibody test. The treatment of the infected dogs with diminazene aceturate (Berenil; Hoechst) at a dose of 7‐0 mg/kg on day 21 after infection cleared all the parasites but elevated the circulating antigen levels. The antigen capture enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay is a useful diagnostic tool for complementing parasitological diagnosis, for detecting infection in the field and for ascertaining the efficacy of trypanocidal drugs.