In vitro release of biologically active materials from the bovine filarial parasite Setaria digitata.

Release of macromolecules by S. digitata, in 9 different media under in vitro condition have been studied. A direct relationship between microfilariae (mf) release and associated folin positive materials was seen in majority of the cases. High activities of hydrolytic enzymes such as protease, collagenase, alkaline phosphatase and lipase were detected in the excretary-secretary products and worm preparations. Activity of collagenase could not be detected in the male worm under experimental conditions.

Cuticle specific antigens from filarial parasite Setaria digitata.

A fairly clean antigenic cuticle was isolated from the S. digitata by dissection. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis of cuticular antigens against rabbit antiserum to cuticular antigens gave 30 anodic and 5 cathodic precipitin arcs. The cuticle antiserum cross reacted with muscle, uterus and pseudocoelomic fluid. When the antiserum was absorbed individually with these cross reacting somatic preparations, analysis against cuticle antigens gave only a limited number of precipitin arcs. But the results are clear enough to indicate the presence of cuticle specific antigens. As the cuticle of the parasite is in contact with the host system, an antigenic preparation from it may prove a useful tool for the detection of filariasis.