Comparison of The Detection of Specific Antibodies, Circulating Antigens and Immune Complexes in ExPerimentaI Infection with Toxocara canis

Abstract

Toxocara canis is a common nematode of canids as dogs, with a wide distribution of eggs in the soil. This represents a threat to the population especially to crildren. Infection is soil transmitted or due to contact with infected dogs by ingestion of mature eggs.

Human infection with T. canis may be asymptomatic but may cause either visceral or ocular larva migrans. Most commonly, diagnosis is serological and classically through the demonstration of lgG antibodies in serum by ELISA using ES antigens of second stage larvae. Alternative approaches include the detection of lgM, circulating antigens or immune complexes, especially upon attempting to diagnose acute infection or to •monitor the efficacy of treatment

In the present study, it was decided to explore the host-parasite interaction serologically in experimental toxocariasis of mice, in conjunction with evaluating eosinophilia in the post-infection period.

For the purpose of carrying out this study, mice were experimentally infected with mature T. canis eggs (500 egg/mouse) that were obtained from female worms found in stray puppies. The eggs had been cultivated for up to 4 weeks approximately in the laboratory before using them to infect the mice. In addition, artificial hatching of the eggs was done and second-stage larvae were cultivated for one week in RPMI-1640 medium in order to obtain ES antigens for serology.