Evaluation of "crude" antigen prepared from Taenia saginata for the serological diagnosis of T. saginata cysticercosis in cattle using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

A "crude" antigen prepared from the strobilate stage of Taenia saginata was tested for its suitability in the peroxidase microenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of T. saginata cysticercosis in cattle. Sera were tested from laboratory and pasture-reared calves experimentally infected with T. saginata as well as from cattle naturally infected by grazing on pasture irrigated with sewage effluent. The specificity of the "diagnostic" antigen was assessed using sera from laboratory-reared cattle with monospecific infections of T. saginata, T. hydatigena, Fasiciola hepatica, or gastro-intestinal nematodes, and natural infections of F. hepatica. Cross-reactions occurred in sera from all heterologous infections but the highest level occurred in cattle experimentally or naturally infected with F. hepatica. Clear diagnostic antibody levels were found in cattle experimentally infected with T. saginata but the test was not found to be reliable in individual animals with natural infections when compared with sera from cattle naturally infected with . hepatica. On a group or herd basis ELISA using "crude" antigen and taking the mean absorbance values, could be useful as an indicator of a high prevalence rate of T. saginata cysticercosis.