Partial purification of antigens from heterophyid metacercariae

ABSTRACT

Heterophyid encysted metacercariae were collected from Tilapia fish. These were used for the preparation of crude heterophyid metacercarial antigen which was then subjected to gel-filtration chromatography using Ultrogen ACA[44]. Three major peaks were obtained with three distinct molecular weights. Fraction I 60,000, fraction II 48,000 and fraction III 22,000 daltons. The relevance and expected further uses of these fractions are discussed in relation to the homologous parasite as well as to other heterologous parasites such as Schistosoma mansoni