title: SvSXP: a Strongylus vulgaris antigen with potential for prepatent diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Strongyle parasites are ubiquitous in grazing horses. Strongylus vulgaris, the most pathogenic of the large strongyles, is known for its extensive migration in the mesenteric arterial system. The lifecycle of S. vulgaris is characterised by a long prepatent period where the migrating larvae are virtually undetectable as there currently is no test available for diagnosing prepatent S. vulgaris infection. Presence of S. vulgaris larvae in the arterial system causes endarteritis and thrombosis with a risk of non-strangulating intestinal infarctions. Emergence of anthelmintic resistance among cyathostomins has led to recommendations of reduced treatment intensity by targeting horses that exceed a predetermined strongyle faecal egg count threshold. One study suggests an apparent increase in prevalence of S. vulgaris on farms where reduced anthelmintic treatment intensity has been implemented. These issues highlight the need for an accurate and reliable assay for diagnosing prepatent S. vulgaris infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunoscreening of a larval S. vulgaris cDNA library using hyperimmune serum raised against S. vulgaris excretory/secretory antigens was performed to identify potential diagnostic antigens. Immunoreactive clones were sequenced, one potential antigen was characterised, expressed as a recombinant protein, initially evaluated by western blot (WB) analysis, the diagnostic potential of the IgG subclasses was evaluated by ELISA, and the diagnostic accuracy evaluated using serum from 102 horses with known S. vulgaris infection status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clone expressing the potential antigen encoded a S. vulgaris SXP/RAL2 homologue. The recombinant protein, rSvSXP, was shown to be a potential diagnostic antigen by WB analysis, and a target of serum IgGa, IgG(T) and total IgG in naturally infected horses, with IgG(T) antibodies being the most reliable indicator of S. vulgaris infection in horses. Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of the ELISA resulted in a sensitivity of 73.3%, a specificity of 81.0%, a diagnostic odds ratio of 11.69; a positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 3.85 and a negative LR was 0.33. The area under the ROC curve was 0.820.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IgG(T) antibodies to recombinant SvSXP show potential for use as an antigen for prepatent diagnosis of migrating stages of S. vulgaris with moderate to good diagnostic accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. ullava@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ulla V
authors.initials: UV
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Sriveny
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dangoudoubiyam
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Reinemeyer
authors.forename: Eugene T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Susanne N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monrad
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nejsum
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
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