Investigation of antibodies against Toxocara canis in naturally infected puppies.

A investigation of antibodies against Toxocara canis was carried out in 15 naturally infected puppies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For this, four different antigens --eggs containing second stage larvae, larvae, adult worms and excretory-secretory products of larvae--were used. At the same time, autopsy and fecal examinations were carried out in these puppies. Of the samples tested, 11 had adult worms and no eggs in the faeces were found in three puppies. The ELISA values against four different antigens obviously enlarged with the age. The correlation between age and ELISA values was significant in the positive direction. While the relationship between the number of worms and the ELISA values was also significant in the negative direction. The ELISA values in the puppies having unfertilized eggs were greater than those having fertilized eggs. These findings submit in the naturally infected puppies that there are intensive relationships among the antibody levels, age, the number of worms and the condition of egg fertilization.