A preliminary study on the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Trichinella spiralis infections in dogs

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect Trichinella spiralis infections in dogs using rabbit anti-canine IgG-horseradish peroxidase prepared according to the improved periodate method and an antigen purified from T. spiralis larvae by Sephadex G-200 chromatography. Sixty-six canine sera were tested for trichinosis by the ELISA and it showed a detection rate which was significantly higher than that by trichinoscopy. This antigen of T. spiralis appeared not to cross-react with the sera of dogs infected with Ancylostoma caninum or Taenia spp. A comparison of ortho-phenylenediamine and 5-amino-2-hydroxybenzoic acid as substrates in the ELISA did not reveal a significant difference. Pieces of filter paper saturated with a defined quantity of whole blood can be substituted for serum as a source material for the test. The relationship between worm burden and the absorbance value in ELISA is discussed.