| Echinococcus multilocularis is a zoonotic cestode which parasitizes the intestines of canines/felines during its adult stage. Microtine rodents serve as the intermediate host for this tapeworm species, and the metacestode stage is found primarily in the livers of this host forming hundreds of protoscoleces (i.e. future scoleces) within a multi-chambered hydatid cyst.;The primary purpose of this study was to determine the number, molecular weights and relative quantity of adult E/S proteins that are antigenically similar to those from the protoscolex. The lectin binding characteristics of these proteins were also determined because complex glycoproteins are generally more stable than non- or lightly-glycosylated proteins, and fecal antigens need to be relatively stable molecules. In addition to E/S antigens, identification and characterization of protoscolex and adult tegumental proteins is needed to compare them to the antigenically similar protoscolex E/S antigens. Components of the tapeworm tegument are continually sloughed from the worms, and therefore, likely to represent a major component of the E/S antigens. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
