Diagnosis of Schistosoma bovis infection in cattle by an indirect haemagglutination test.

An indirect haemagglutination test has been developed for the detection of Schistosoma bovis antibody. Fresh, formalin and glutaraldehyde fixed sheep erythrocytes as well as fresh and formalin fixed human erythrocytes were tested. Tanned glutaraldehyde fixed sheep erythrocytes sensitized with an adult worm extract were the most sensitive and remained stable for at least 8 weeks at 4 degrees C. With such cells 98% of a group of S. bovis infected cattle were positive while negative results were obtained from cattle infected with other helminths.