Echinococcus granulosus: comparison between antigens in scolices and hydatid fluid

Abstract The sheep hydatid fluid and scolex antigens of Echinococcus granulosus were precipitated by increasing ammonium sulphate concentrations. The antigenic profiles, obtained by complement fixation and indirect hemagglutination inhibition tests on the ammonium sulphate precipitates after linear sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation, were different comparing the hydatid fluid and the scolex extracts. Antigenic non-identity was found between sheep hydatid fluid and scolex extracts by immunodiffusion and indirect hemagglutination inhibition tests. The ammonium sulphate precipitates of hydatid fluid and scolex extracts revealed several different bands by slab-gel examination.