Evaluation of fractionated Wuchereria bancrofti microfilarial excretory-secretory antigens for diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

The Wuchereria bancrofti microfilarial excretory-secretory antigens were fractionated into ES1, ES2, ES3 and ES4 by ultra-membrane filtration and evaluated for their diagnostic utility by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Three of the four fractions showed antigenic activity (ES2, ES3 and ES4). The antigen fractions ES2 and ES4 were highly active in the detection of filarial IgM antibody in clinical filariasis and microfilaraemia respectively. The chemical characterization of the ES2 and ES4 antigen fractions showed that they were glycoproteins.