Evaluation of antibody against hydatid fluid, protoscolex and adult worms of Echinococcus granulosus antigens by ELISA in mice

Echinococcosis is one of the world’s relevant zoonoses, affecting both humans and their domestic animals and caused by infection with the metacestode stage of the dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus. In the present study, twenty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups of 5. Each mouse in groups 1, 2 and 3 was immunized with 100 μg of hydatid cyst fluid protein, protoscolex and adult worms of E. granulosus proteins in 100 μl of phosphate-buffered saline which was emulsified with an equal volume of Freund’s complete adjuvant respectively. In group 4, mice were just immunized with above adjuvant in PBS. Mice were boosted four weeks after the first immunization with the same preparation and with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant. Three weeks later, each mouse was challenged with 2000 protoscolices intraperitoneally. Sera were collected before and after each immunization and serum antibodies were tested by ELISA. Results showed that the level of antibody in mice which were immunized with adult worms of E. granulosus on day 28 was roughly seven times higher than before immunization and was higher than hydatid cyst fluid and protoscolex. Level of antibody in mice immunized with adult worms of E. granulosus was also higher than in hydatid cyst fluid and protoscolex groups at day 49. The results of this article indicate that antigen of adult worms of E. granulosus can be used as a candidate for production of a vaccine.