Several monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were raised against the L1
muscle stage
(L1M) of Trichinella spiralis (Ts) and
Trichinella pseudospiralis (Tp). Western blot analysis of various
antigenic preparations established that Mabs described
by different authors recognized 8 antigenic fractions (TSL1–TSL8)
in crude extracts of infective larvae. The TSL1
fraction was immunodominant and present on the cuticle of different
parasite stages. Mabs against Trichinella T5 (T5)
and Ts were selected in order to extend the previous studies to another
Trichinella phenotype. Only 35% of the selected
Mabs recognized linear epitopes and 71% reacted with soluble or
excretory–secretory antigens in a dot blot procedure
and ELISA test. The targets of the Mabs were identified by
immunoprecipitation with [35S]methionine-labelled
L1M
worm lysate. Mabs prepared from mice immunized with the whole parasite
(T5) recognized a wider panel of antigens in
different parasitic organs. Seven antigenic structures were distinguished
on the cuticle and several epitopes were identified
in the gut, haemolymph and stichocytes. Eleven antigenic groups were
established according to their indirect immunofluorescence pattern on
cross-sections of the worm. Monoclonal antibodies raised against Ts
soluble antigen mainly
recognized epitopes in stichocytes and on the cuticle surface. All the
selected Mabs recognized T5 and Trichinella britovi
(Tb) strengthening the link between these 2 species. Four Mabs were used
to differentiate antigenic structures among 6
Trichinella phenotypes and to develop a new tool to follow gene
flow within the Trichinella genus.