[Recognition by immunoelectroblotting of antigens from Taenia solium and its larva]

Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) were infected with cysticerci of Taenia solium. Groups of three were bled and killed weekly up to 15 weeks recording the number of implanted adults in the small intestine. A longitudinal study on the antibody response against adult and larvae Ags was carried out, as well as against Ags of H. nana. By ELISA, antibodies against larvae and adult Ags of T. solium were detected since the first week, showing a peak at 3 and 5 weeks respectively. At 14 weeks antibodies levels were very low, which is the time when the parasite is eliminated. The response against Ags of H. nana was very low and disappeared at 4 weeks. By western blot we found that the infected hamsters can distinguish specific stage Ags both in the adult and larvae of T. solium. After 12 weeks only the adult was recognized, the Ags of H. nana were recognize in western blot only during the first week.