title: Identification of candidate antigens from adult stages of Toxocara canis for the serodiagnosis of human toxocariasis.
abstract: In the present work, we identified adult Toxocara canis antigens through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for potential use in human toxocariasis immunodiagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity of several semi-purified antigens, as well as their cross-reactivity with other parasitic infections, were assessed by IgM and IgG-enzime linked immunosorbent assay. Whilst we found that the crude extract of the parasite presented limited sensitivity, specificity and high cross-reactivity against other parasites, we identified 42, 58, 68 and 97-kDa semi-purified antigens as the most promising candidates for immunodiagnosis. Moreover, the 58 and 68-kDa antigens presented the lowest IgM cross-reactivity. When tested as a combination, a mixture of the 58 and 68-kDa antigens presented 100% sensitivity and specificity, as well as minor cross-reactivity. Although the combination of the 42, 58, 68 and 97-kDa antigens presented 100% sensitivity at a dilution of 1:40, the low specificity and high cross-reactivity observed suggested a limited use for diagnostic purposes. Our data suggested that the 58 and 68-kDa antigens might be most suitable for the immunodiagnosis of human toxocariasis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas.
authors.forename: Patrícia Longuinhos
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.forename: Evaldo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Guilherme Grossi Lopes
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cançado
authors.forename: Rodrigo Rodrigues Cambraia de
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Regina Lunardi
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Ricardo Nascimento
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Ricardo Toshio
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004285:Dogs; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M