Specificity of isoelectric focusing-purified antigens in the diagnosis of human cysticercosis.

Specific antigens were isolated from the cystic fluid of larval Taenia solium by preparative isoelectric focusing (PIEF). A total of 20 fractions were produced by a rotating ampholine column with pI 3-10 ampholytes. The specificity of each fraction (F) was tested by double-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antisera from patients suffering from cysticercosis or one of six other parasitic diseases. F8-F15 cross-reacted strongly with sera from patients with hydatidosis. F9 and F10 also cross-reacted with the antisera against ascariasis and F15, with antisera against angiostrongylosis. However, F16 and F17 were highly specific as they yielded no cross-reaction with any of the heterologous antisera. PIEF is a good method for the production of specific antigens from larval T. solium because it is easy to perform and relatively inexpensive to run.