Serodiagnosis of lungworm infection in calves using ELISA

Soluble antigens were prepared from adult Dictyocaulus viviparus worms and from parasitic larval stages. Circulating antibody titres against these antigens were determined during experimental and field challenge studies. Stage-specific responses were found in vaccinated and non-vaccinated calves after challenge infection. Titre-values are probably correlated with the number of larvae reaching the lungs and the number of larvae developing into later larval resp. adult stages. The ELISA-technique appeared to be useful for diagnosis of lungworm infection level in cattle herds and has been applied in a sero-epidemiological survey in the Netherlands.