Abstract
The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica parasitizes humans and ruminant livestock worldwide, and it is now being considered a reemerging zoonotic disease, especially in areas in which it is endemic, such as South America. This study investigates the immune response to excretory and secretory products produced by F. hepatica in a group of patients from the Peruvian Altiplano, where the disease is highly endemic. Using a proteomic approach and immunoblotting techniques, we have identified the enzymes leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase as immunodominant antigens recognized by sera from fasciolosis patients. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant LAP as the antigen was developed to check sera from individuals of this region. Our results demonstrate that LAP produces a specific and strong reaction, suggesting its potential use in the serologic diagnosis of F. hepatica infections in humans.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Animals
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Antigens, Helminth / genetics
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Antigens, Helminth / immunology*
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Antigens, Helminth / metabolism
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Base Sequence
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Blotting, Western / methods
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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DNA Primers
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Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / methods
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
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Fasciola hepatica / genetics
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Fasciola hepatica / immunology
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Fasciola hepatica / isolation & purification*
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Fascioliasis / blood
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Fascioliasis / immunology*
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Fascioliasis / parasitology
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Fascioliasis / veterinary*
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Humans
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Immunodominant Epitopes / genetics
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Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology*
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Immunodominant Epitopes / metabolism
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Leucyl Aminopeptidase / genetics
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Leucyl Aminopeptidase / immunology*
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Leucyl Aminopeptidase / metabolism
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
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Sheep
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Sheep Diseases / immunology
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Sheep Diseases / parasitology*
Substances
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Antigens, Helminth
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DNA Primers
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Immunodominant Epitopes
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Leucyl Aminopeptidase