Use of a monoclonal antibody against the antigen B of Echinococcus granulosus for purification and detection of antigen B.

A monoclonal antibody directed against the 8 kDa subunit of antigen B of Echinococcus granulosus was raised. This antibody was used for purification of antigen B by affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE and immunological analysis of the purified antigen B demonstrated that the 8 kDa antigen B subunit was purified to homogeneity. The purified antigen retained its strong immunoreactivity in ELISA using human hydatid sera. Furthermore, a sandwich ELISA was established for detection of antigen B from hydatid cysts. The usefulness of this test system was demonstrated by the detection of antigen B in human hydatid cyst fluids, thus confirming the diagnosis of an echinococcal disease.