OSTERTAGIA-OSTERTAGI - ISOLATION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SOMATIC AND METABOLIC ANTIGENS

One metabolic (ES) and two somatic extracts (AS and MS) were prepared from Ostertagia ostertagi. Partial characterization of the three preparations was accomplished by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblot techniques. In immunoblots, AS showed a low number of bands that reacted weakly with sera collected from infected calves. MS reacted strongly with the homologous sera, and a sharp group of bands appeared from 12 to 14 kDa, increasing in intensity as the infection progressed. ES showed a group of strongly immunogenic bands in the range of 16-22 kDa. The three preparations were also tested for reactivity with specific anti-Ostertagia antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The ELISA results showed that all three worm extracts contained antigen epitopes recognized by circulating antibody in sera taken from O. ostertagi-infected calves. The strongest response was seen when antibodies of the IgG1 isotype were reacted with MS and ES. When sera taken from O. radiatum-infected calves were used both somatic extracts showed high levels of cross-reactivity.