Development and evaluation of immunoblot-based serodiagnostic tests for hydatid infection in macropodids

This study examined the suitability of immunoblot assays using antigen B from hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) and the recombinant protein EpC1 to estimate the prevalence of hydatid infection in threatened small macropodid populations. When HCF antigen B was used on sera from 29 wild eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) examined for the presence of hydatid cysts at necropsy (17 positive and 12 negative), and from five captive-bred macropodids, the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 41%, respectively. Following optimization, the use of rEpC1 on sera from 51 wild eastern grey kangaroos (48 positive and 3 negative at necropsy), and from 9 captive bred macropodids, resulted in sensitivity and specificity of 48% and 92% respectively.