Epitope specific monoclonal antibodies from heterologous antigen for immunodiagnosis of filariasis.

The excretory secretory (ES) antigens produced from Setaria digitata were studied by PAGE and Western blot and compared with human filarial systems. Monoclonal antibodies (K3AE7 and K3BD5) developed against the ES antigen were evaluated by ELISA for the diagnosis of human filariasis. Cent per cent positive reaction was found with the circulating filarial antigen (CFA) of microfilaria carriers, occult and symptomatic patients and clear negative reaction with both the endemic and nonendemic controls. The clones offer promise for the development of highly sensitive diagnostic reagents for the detection of filariasis.