Characterisation of protein antigen from Fasciola gigantica of different age

The protein antigens extracted from adult fluke Fasciola gigantica, 3, 6 and 9 weeks old and newly excysted juvenile (NEJ) were identified using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting techniques. Sera from fat-tailed sheep which artificially infected with the metacercariae of F. gigantica were used for immunoblotting. The results showed that the protein antigen profile of adult fluke, 6 and 9 weeks old flukes had similar. Bands with molecular weight between 24 kDa to 114 kDa. Protein bands with molecular weight 24 kDa and 198 kDa were also detected from the adult fluke. The use of immunoblotting technique, there were two antigenic protein molecules identified from adult fluke, NEJ and 3, 6, and 9 weeks old fluke with the molecular weight 46 kDa and 47 kDa. The protein band with molecular weight 198 kDa shown thicker on the NEJ than that of adult fluke, and 6 and 9 weeks old flukes. The role of protein with molecular weight of 46 and 47 kDa were the interested findings need to be evaluatedfor serological analysis. Key words : Protein antigen, Fasciola gigantica, SDS-PAGE, immunoblottin