Antigens of Hyostrongylus rubidus, the red stomach worm of pigs. Analyses by means of passive haemagglutination and immediate hypersensitivity tests

Abstract

Antigens were prepared from different stages of worm development and adult worm antigens were fractionated by ion exchange and exclusion chromatography. The antigens, or fractions of them, were assessed for their activity in passive haemagglutination reactions or intradermal tests. The results of the passive haemagglutination reactions indicated that circulating agglutinins were more readily detected when adult stage specific antigens were used. Antigen prepared from worms isolated when the population was declining was less sensitive. Fractions of adult worm antigen did not confer greater sensitivity than the whole worm extract.