Purification and characterization of a specific Fasciola antigen.

Specific Fasciola antigen was prepared from homogenates of Fasciola hepatica adult worms. The homogenate was ultracentrifuged and the supernatant containing crude Fasciola antigen was then passed over a cyanogen bromide activated sepharose 4B column coupled with antiserum against Schistosoma tnunsoni ndul t worm surface antigen. The specific, Schistosoma- free Fascio la antigen was tested for its specificity by immunodiffusion. Characterization of . . the specific Fasciola antigen was done by gradient -poly-acry Iamide gel electrophoresis and imm unoblotting technique. The electrophoresis migration pattern of specific Fasciola antigen, stained with Coomassie blue, shbwed 7 bands in the 12-54 kDa regions. Using the immunoblotting technique, a batch of positive fascioliasis sera recognized two specific bands at the 33 and 54 kDa I& 'regions.