Comparison of Electrophoretic Patterns of Larval Stages of Taeniidae and Determination of Specific Antigens of Hydatid Cyst by Western Blotting Technique

A large number of mammals are hosts of taeniidae cestodes. Laboratoiy diagnosis of infections is not common in animals, but is of special importance in humans. The determination of antigenic fractions in larval stages of taeniidae is of a high importance for diagnosis and vaccination. In the present study the antigens from different parts of hydatid cyst, coenurus cerebralis, cysticercus bovis and cysticercus taenuicollis have been characterized using SDS-PAGE technique. In order to determine the specific antigens, sera samples of animals infected with hydatid cyst, coenurus cerebralis and cysticercus taenuicollis were analyzed by western blotting technique. Results showed that in antigenic pattern of the c. taenuicollis: scolex had 14 protein bands ranging from 13 to 120 kDa, fluid had 8 protein bands about 12 to 57 kDa and cyst wall had 11 bands about 12 to 100 kDa. A band about 50 kDa was common among the three antigens. For C.bovis, only antigens of scolex were analyzed. Six protein bands were determined in the range of 20 to 50 kDa. For hydatid cyst four bands were detected in the protoscolex. The molecular weights of three of them were 12-14, 32-40 and 50-51 kDa. Nine bands ranged between 12 to 60 kDa were observed in the fluid and 5 bands were detected in the laminated layer. For Coenuruses cerebralis 6 bands of 13, 20, 23, 30, 35 and, 65 kDa were observed in the scolex, three unclear bands were shown in the fluid of cyst, whereas 6 bands ranged between 13 to 62 were seen in the cyst wall. The results of western blotting analysis showed that in the fluid, protoscolex and laminated layer of the hydatic cyst three bands of 13, 50 and 70 kDa as immunogenic were common. Also two 90 and 110 kDa bands of fluid and cyst wall of C. teanuicollis were detected as diagnostic antigens of hydatid cyst. In the laminated layer and fluid of hydatid cyst two 55 and 40 kDa bands were determined. In conclusion although western blotting is a time consuming and costly method, this is one of the best ways for diagnosis of infections, especially parasitic ones.