The specific diagnostic antigens of Paragonimus westermani adult worms

Aim: To find out the specific antigens for immunodiagnosis of paragonimiasis.Methods: The soluble antigens of Paragonimus westermani adult worms were analyzsed by SDS PAGE and immunoblotting.Results: SDS PAGE revealed that the soluble antigens of P. westermani adult worms had 14 protein bands, among which the protein bands with molecular weight (MW) of 53 000,31 000,25 000,16 000,and 11 000 were the major bands. The immunoblotting results showed that the protein bands with MW of 53 000 and 34 000 in P. westermani adult worm soluble antigens cross reacted with sera from patients with clonorchiasis. The protein bands with MW of 108 000,94 000 and 65 000 cross reacted with sera from patients with schistosomiasis. All of the protein bands with MW of 58 000,53 000,and 43 000 cross reacted with sera from the rats and mice infected with T. spiralis and patients with trichinellosis. The protein component with MW of 37 000 was only reacted with sera from the rats infected with P. skrjabini and patients with paragonimiasis, but not reacted with sera from patients wth clonorchiasis, schistosomiasis, trichinellosis,sera from rats and mice infected with T. spiralis ,and sera from normal rats, mice, and persons.Conclusions:The protein component with MW of 37 000 in P. westermani adult worm soluble antigens is the specific antigen for P. westermani adult worm.It could be applied to the immunodiagnosis and seroepidemiological investigation of paragonimiasis.