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Differential serodiagnostics of T oxocara canis and T oxocara cati – is it possible?
Author(s) -
Poulsen C. S.,
Skov S.,
Yoshida A.,
Skallerup P.,
Maruyama H.,
Thamsborg S. M.,
Nejsum P.
Publication year - 2015
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/pim.12181
Subject(s) - canis , biology , toxocara cati , serology , toxocara canis , zoology , veterinary medicine , immunology , ecology , antibody , medicine
Summary One of the most common zoonotic helminth infections is caused by species in the genus T oxocara , particularly T oxocara canis and T . cati ( S yn. T . mystax ). However, their relative contribution to toxocarosis in humans remains largely unknown because causative larvae are seldom recovered and uncertainties regarding the validity of existing serological assays. In this study, we used sera from a pig model experimentally infected with T . canis and T . cati to evaluate whether a W estern blot could discriminate between the two species. No proteins were observed that could be used as a diagnostic tool. In addition, a heterogenic protein pattern between individual hosts was found, which was most pronounced in the T . cati ‐infected pigs. There is therefore an urgent need to optimize and validate current methods or develop new species‐specific serological methods in order to implement appropriate control measures.