Original Article
Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science (1976) 54, 317–327; doi:10.1038/icb.1976.32
THE SPECIFICITY OF NEMATODE ALLERGENS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HUMAN VISCERAL LARVA MIGRANS
RS Hogarth-Scott* and Brian J Feery†
- C.S.I.R.O. Division of Animal Health, Animal Health Research Laboratory, Private Bag No. 1, P.O. Parkville, Victoria 3052
- Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052
*Present address: I.C.I. Australia Limited, Central Research Laboratories, Newsom Street, Ascot Vale, Victoria 3032.
†Reprint requests to Dr. B. Feery, Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052.
Accepted 14 July 1976.
Abstract
Extracts of nematodes have been used as skin test antigens in the diagnosis of nematode infections for many years. Ascaris lumbricoides and Taxocara canis are two nematodes commonly involved in human parasitism, the latter being associated with the clinical condition of Visceral Larva Migrans.
In vitro and in vivo experiments reported in this paper confirm experimentally, as well as clinically, the existence of cross-reacting antigens between T. canis and Ascaris spp., and probably between T. canis and other nematodes. These cross-reactions compromise the usefulness of skin tests in the diagnosis of such parasitic infections.
