Usefulness of 8 kDa protein of Fasciola hepatica in diagnosis of fascioliasis

Abstract

This study was designed to detect and evaluate an antigenicity of low molecular weight proteins ofFasciola hepatica in fascioliasis. Low molecular weight protein of F. hepaticawas purified by ammonium sulfateprecipitation and Sephacryl S-100 HR gel filtration. The protein obtained was estimated to be 8 kDa on 7.5-15%gradient sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Immunoblotting studies showed that the 8 kDa protein reactedwith human fascioliasis sera, but not other trematodiasis sera. This result suggests that the 8 kDa protein of F.hepatica is one of diagnostic antigens in human fascioliasis without cross-reaction with other human trematodiasis.