Echinococcus antibody

The concept that the scolex of adult cestodes is generally non-penetrative has been shown not to hold for species such as Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis, where the scolex penetrates the crypts of Lieberkiihn and, occasionally, even the lamina propria (Fig. 9.5) often resulting in a complete breakdown of the mucosal epithelium. These species can be regarded as both tissue and lumenal parasites. That the scolex contact is close is reflected in the fact that anti-Echinococcus antibodies appear in dog sera 14 days post-infection (p.i.) (368). It is likely, however, that in many cestodes the scolex contact is more superficial and breakdown of the mucosa may not occur, especially in those species which undergo diurnal migration - see Chapter 9. 

Woollard, D.J., Gauci, C.G. and Lightowlers, M.W. (2000a) Synthetic peptides induce antibody against a host-protective antigen of Echinococcus granulosus. Vaccine 18, 785-794. 

It is beyond the scope of this text to consider the immunodiagnosis of adult and larval cestode infections. Various aspects of this topic have been extensively reviewed by Flisser et al. (226), Fox et al. (228), Draper Lillywhite (183), Houba (337), Gottstein et al. (261), Rickard Lightowlers (690) and Walls Schantz (928). A major breakthrough in diagnosis has been the development of an anti-oncospheral monoclonal antibody for the unequivocal identification of eggs of Echinococcus spp. by immunofluorescence (154). 

Craig, P. S., Macpherson, C. N. L. Nelson, G. S. (1986). The identification of eggs of Echinococcus by immunofluorescence using a specific anti-oncospheral monoclonal antibody. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 35 152-8. 

Jenkins, D. J. Rickard, M. D. (1985). Specific antibody responses to Taenia hydatigena, T. pisiformis and Echinococcus granulosus in dogs. Australian Veterinary Journal, 62 72-8. 

Specific antibody responses in dogs experimentally infected with Echinococcus granulosus. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 35 345-49. 

Dessaint, J.P., Bout, D., Wattre, P. and Capron, A. (1975). Quantitative determination of specific IgE antibodies to Echinococcus granulosus and IgE levels in sera from patients with hydatid disease. Immunology 29, 813. 

Helminth parasites are the most complex infectious disease agents infecting mammals, and hence the host s antibody responses to them are the most diverse. Unlike other infectious diseases, most helminths do not divide in the body of the final host, and therefore the antigenic load is dependent on the infective dose. Exceptions to this are Echinococcus spp. and Strongyloides spp. Antibodies are produced against antigens present within helminths (somatic... 

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