Specific detection of circulating surface/secreted glycoproteins of viable cysticerci in Taenia saginata cysticercosis

Summary A mouse monoclonal antibody (MoAb), reactive with a repetitive carbohydrate epitope on lentil–lectin adherent glycoproteins present on the surface and in the secretions of Taenia saginata cysticerci, was used in the construction of a diagnostic ELISA assay to detect these glycoproteins in the serum of T. saginata infected cattle. The MoAb was used as the trapping layer and subsequently bound glycoprotein was revealed using the same MoAb and biotinylated peroxidase‐streptavidin complex as the developing system. The assay was suitably specific. Exceptionally low background values were obtained with sera from animals with a range of commonly occurring tropical parasitic infections, including Taenia hydatigena, Echinococcus granulosus and Fasciola gigantica. The minimal detection level was approximately 200 live cysticerci in cattle. Parasite derived glycoprotein could be detected in serum from about 4–5 weeks post‐infection onwards and was associated with a current infection, as drug treatment of infected cattle to kill the cysticerci resulted in the disappearance of these components from the circulation, while the titre of anti‐parasite antibody remained high. The same assay also detected Taenia solium cysticercosis in humans.