[Antigenic activities of eggs, egg membranes, metabolic products and hatched larvae from the uterus of dipetalonema viteae (author's transl)].

Eggs of different stages of development, egg membranes, and the fluid isolated from uterus and pseudocoelomic cavity show antigenic properties against sera from Wuchereriasis- and Onchocerciasis-patients in the indirect immunofluorescent test, while hatched larvae did not show any fluorescence. Isolation and simple drying of these antigenic materials on microscopic slides when compared with histologically prepared antigenic material (Methacrylate or cryostate-sections) proved to have quantitatively and qualitatively equal antigenic properties in the immunofluorescent test with considerable technical, time and money saving advantages. These observations indicate further that the elements of the female reproductive system are group specific antigens responsible for the immune response in the host.