University of Peradeniya
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Browsing University of Peradeniya by Subject "Antigens, Helminth-blood"
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Item Nematode infection of laboratory animals which show non specific serological cross reactivity with filarial antigens(University of Peradeniya: UP(MED)., 1984) Cramer,LDPhenomena such as antigenic cross reactivity, antigenic competition, immune tolerance and enhancement, complicate nematode serology greatly. Sera of laborato:ry animals, for example the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are used in serological procedures. An infection in the laboratory animal used for serological studies complicates the interpretation of the findings. A survey of the faeces of 121 rabbits in 5 locations were carried out to detect intestinal nematode parasites, and revealed twenty five (20.7per cent) of the rabbits to be infected. Four different methods of faecal examination were used, viz Direct Smear Technique (D.S.T.), Kato Thick Smear Technique (K.T.S.T.), Zinc Sulphate Centrifugal Floatation Technique (Z.S.C.F.T.) and the Faecal Culture Technique (F.C.T.), and the most efficient were found to be the Zinc Sulphate Centrifugal Floatation Technique (Z.S.C.F.T.) and the Faecal Culture Technique (F.C.T.). A nematode parasite Helignonella indica (Singh, 1969) was found in the duodenum of an infected rabbit. This finding constitutes a new host record as H. indica has not been previously reported from the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The morphology of this parasite and its larval stages obtained by faecal culture technique were studied. Experirrental reinfection of non infected rabbits with larvae obtained by faecal culture proved successful. Adult worms were not recovered at post mortem examination though eggs were present in the faeces. Serological studies using enzyme linked imnunosobent assay (ELISA) on the sera of non infected rabbits, naturally and experimentally infected rabbits with H. indica antigen, SD2-4 antigen and sera from Wuchereria bancrofti infected patients showed the presence of an antigenic cross reactivity between the parasite Heligrronella indica and the filarial worms, viz, W. bancrofti and Setaria digitata.