Indirect ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884) and Metorchis bilis (Braun, 1790) in foxes

Serological investigations focused on the detection of specific opisthorchiid liver fluke antibodies in silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes fulva). Animals were experimentally infected with Opisthorchis felineus (nos. 1 and 2) and Metorchis bilis (nos. 3–8) by feeding fish with a counted number of metacercariae. Four foxes remained as non-infected negative controls (nos. 9–12). For the indirect ELISA, an excretory–secretory antigen was produced by in vitro cultivation of O. felineus and M. bilis adults isolated from livers of experimentally infected hamsters.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) seroconversion against homologous antigen took place between weeks 2 and 6 postinfection (p.i.) and foxes remained seropositive up to the end of the trial at week 41 p.i. In contrast, IgG titres against heterologous antigen remained significantly lower and stayed near the cut-off. All infected animals excreted opisthorchiid eggs, starting between weeks 2 and 4 p.i. The number of liver flukes found at necropsy was relatively low, except in one fox that was sacrificed at the week 11 p.i. These results suggest that the ELISA is a suitable tool for the detection of specific O. felineus and M. bilis antibodies in the fox.