HUMAN HUMORAL IMMUNE-RESPONSES AGAINST TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS

The analysis of trichinellosis patients' sera was performed by Western blot against a crude extract of Trichinella spiralis. Eight distinctive bands from 38 to 104 kDa were present in most of the patients' sera as a striking homogeneous response. Some of these characteristic bands were found to be recognized by the serum of infected rodents and of an immunized rabbit in this work, and have also been reported to be recognized by monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies from T. spiralis infected or immunized rats, mice, swine or rabbits. Our data indicate that different animal species as well as humans recognize unique immunodominant epitopes of T. spiralis.