The serodiagnosis of chronic fascioliasis (Fasciola gigantica) using a fluorescent-antibody technique with single and multiple whole-fluke antigens.

Sera from cattle with single or mixed infections of Fasciola gigantica. Dicrocoelium hospes, Schistosoma bovis and paramphistomes were examined for fluorescent antibodies. Cross-reacting antibodies of the heterologous flukes were easily detected by using cryostat sections with whole-fluke-antigen of all three flukes. The presence of F. gigantica antibodies in a cattle herd was tested at two monthly intervals in order to establish the occurrence of chronic fascioliasis. The lack of significant differences in antibody levels of infected, treated and uninfected cattle however showed that herd antibody levels are not very useful to detect chronic Fasciola infections.