LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010 TIMISOARA

IMMUNOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF FASCIOLOSIS BY ELISA METHOD IN SHEEP AND CATTLE FROM

I. OPRESCU¹, GH. DARABU¹, S. MORARIU¹, NARCISA MEDERLE¹, M.S. ILIE¹, MIRELA IMRE¹, K. IMRE¹, P. ONITA²

¹Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Timisoara, 300645, Calea Aradului, No. 119, Timisoara, ²DSVSA ARAD Email: [email protected]

Summary

The aim of the study " Immunological diagnosis of fasciolosis by Elisa method in sheep and cattle from Arad County " was to make a serological screening in sheep and cattle from Arad County in 2008. Results obtained in sheep show a medium infestation of animals from six localities and a lower infestation in other 13 CSV units. ELISA test in bovines painted out negative results in four units, in three units the infestation was medium and in the other 12 units infestation was low. Based on the obtained results the extensivity of faciolosis was determined, and a mapping of this helminthosis in Arad County was made. Key words: immunological, diagnosis, fasciolosis

Fasciolosis is one of the most important helmintosis affecting the liver, of ruminants and produces significant losses in livestock populations (7). Early diagnosis of fasciolosis creates the opportunity of a prompt intervention with narrowspectrum products, but with a high degree of efficiency, so that economic losses are minimal (3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17). The surveillance program implemented by A.N.S.V.S.A. is trying to perform the serological monitoring of sheep and cattle for Fasciola hepatica infestations. ELISA immunoassay method is a paraclinic sensitive and accurate test, being used in most Western laboratories to monitorize the infections in sheep and cattle in endemic areas (1, 4, 6, 13, 14). These imunodiagnosis methods are widespread used also in human medicine (2, 5, 12).

Materials and methods

Economical impact of fasciolosis is in a continuous increase. This disease with populational extinction can be quickly diagnosed by serological tests and can easily be treated with specific anthelmintic drugs if it is diagnosed. For domestic and pet animals, the antigen hemaglutination "f2" method, proved to be more sensitive than immunoelectrophoresis. Recently, ELISA method using purified extract of Fasciola hepatica was improved (45).

21 LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010, TIMISOARA

Antigen "f2" is very immunogenic and has a high specificity for F. hepatica . This kit was standardized according to the haemaglutination method developed by Dr. Levieux team. The kit allows determining the concentration of antibodies to F. hepatica . It was validated for serum of sheep cattle and cow lactoser. Since in most cases the antibody concentration is correlated with the infestation, the analysis can be done on a single serum sample, but also a mixture of 510 sera, or a mixture of serum from all animals in the herd can be evaluated. Also, the test can be used on the milk from cooling tank. Procedure: dilute control samples 1/20, put 190 l of “dilution buffer 2”, add 10 l of undiluted negative control solution into A1 and A2, and 10 l positive control solution in B1, B2 and C1, C2. Serum samples are diluted 1/20, put 190l dilution buffer, adding 10l of each serum in a coated tube and 10l of each serum in uncoated tubes. Milk samples are processed as follows: put 200 l of each sample of undiluted milk in a coated tube and the same amount of undiluted milk in an uncoated tube. The tube content is well homogenized by slightly shaking the tray on which the samples are arranged. The tray is then covered with an aluminum or plastic foil and incubated for one hour (± 5 min) at 37° C (± 3 º C).

Samples distribution in the titration plates is shown below: N N 6 6 P P .. .. P P .. .. 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 N negative control sample; Ppositive control sample; 1 sample No. 1; 2 sample No. 2……;

The next operation is washing. A bottle of "concentrated washing solution" is diluted in 1900 ml of distilled water. Mixture is called "washing solution", tray is emptied of content (can be made by automatic method) after that all the tubes on the tray will be filled with washing solution, then emptied (it takes repeat of 2 3 times). Conjugate storage: conjugate is diluted 1/100 with "dilution buffer1" and placed 100 ml/tube, cover the pan with aluminum foil and incubated 30 min (± 3min) at 37° C (± 3°C). After this stage another washing is performed (operation is repeated three times).

22 LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010 TIMISOARA

Revelation is made by putting a quantity of 100 l of "Revealing solution 3” in each tube, followed by incubation at 21°C for 20 minutes (protect from light) after incubation 100 l of "Stop Solution" are added to each tube and shake the pan gently until the solution is homogeneous. Carefully wipe the tray. The plate is read at an optical density of 450 nm (OD 450). Photometry must be proved first in goals (air) and calculate its correction OD 450 nm for each serum sample. It transcribes the value of OD 450 obtained from an uncoated tube and the value obtained from a sample. The result can be considered valid if: value uncorrected OD 450 nm of positive control is higher than 0.350 and if the ratio of value corrected OD 450 of positive control and correction value OD 450 of negative control is greater than or equal to 3.5. Interpretation of results: for each sample the ratio of S / P is calculated:

S/P= 100 x corrected value OD 450 for analysed sample / mean corrected value OD 450 of positive control sample S/P % from Correlation between The correlation between test results and the sample the result of test and proportion of herd infestation the level of infestation (individual serum sample) %E/P ≥150% + + + Severe infestation (>50%) + + + 80< %E/P< 150% + + Medium infestation (20% and 50%) + + 30 <%E/P≤ 80 + Low infestation (<20%) + % E/P≤ 30% 0 Very low infestation 0

Note: Values described in the above table are only indicative. Indeed, if serum or milk is analyzed, results depend on the antibody concentration of each sample. A positive serological test reveals the presence of infected animals and contaminated land. Even after propriate treatment, with an effective drug, the animal will remain a carrier of antibodies up to 12 weeks (during this time, the concentration of antibodies may fluctuate). An animal treated in autumn can not be distinguished from one untreated 12 weeks ago. Furthermore, a serological examination (early in spring) will not be able to estimate the effectiveness of treatment. Blood samples were collected under sterile conditions, in special vacuum tubes without anticoagulant from sheep and cattle from 19 localities of Arad County. 3% of samples (Table 1) were analyzed for fasciolosis by the surveillance program, from the total herds of sheep and cattle. Corrected optimal density of 450 nm for samples examined in sheep have varied between 0.350 and 0.450 and values for cattle ranged from 0.365 to 0.450. Mean corrected density value 450 nm of positive control sample was 3.500 for sheep and 3.550 for cattle. 23 LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010, TIMISOARA

Table 1 Situation of examined serum samples from sheep and cattle in Arad County in 2008 Crt. C.S.V.A. Effectives Total of no. Sheep Cattle analyzed samples 1. Petris 720 500 22/15 2. Savarsin 500 600 15/18 3. Bata 820 540 25/16 4. Varadia de Mures 1600 500 48/15 5. Barzava 3339 969 100/28 6. 5780 280 171/29 7. Odvos 556 230 17/7 8. Ususau 5800 180 172/5 9. 13400 410 402/12 10. 2568 327 76/10 11. 5990 660 180/20 12. ChisineuCris 11850 395 357/12 13. Simand 5500 400 165/12 14. 3200 221 96/7 15. Sepreus 6504 371 195/11 16. Archis 710 414 21/13 17. Carand 500 330 15/10 18. Santana 6932 793 208/24 19. Siria 5800 350 174/11

Results and discussions

All serum samples from sheep and cattle were processed according to the instructions for ELISA method developed by the Institute Pourquier, France and have been described in the previous chapter. The reading of the samples was performed at 450 nm optical density. The degree of infestation has been established after a correlation between test results and the proportion of infestation in the herd. The results obtained from processed samples are presented in Table 2.

Table 2 Results of positive tests samples for Fasciola hepatica in sheep and bovine serum by ELISA, in 2008 Crt. C.S.V.A. Total of analyzed samples Total positive samples nr. Sheep Cattle Sheep Cattle 1. Petris 22 15 2 1 2. Savarsin 15 18 1 1 3. Bata 25 16 3 1 4. Varadia de Mures 48 15 3 2 24 LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010 TIMISOARA

5. Barzava 100 28 6 2 6. Conop 171 29 7 3 7. Odvos 17 7 1 1 8. Ususau 172 5 5 0 9. Bocsig 402 12 12 1 10. Cermei 76 10 3 1 11. Apateu 180 20 14 1 12. ChisineuCris 357 12 17 1 13. Simand 165 12 6 1 14. Sintea Mare 96 7 4 0 15. Sepreus 195 11 5 1 16. Archis 21 13 1 1 17. Carand 15 10 1 0 18. Santana 208 24 5 1 19. Siria 174 11 5 0

The proportion of positive samples obtained by tested sera from sheep and cattle by ELISA, in Arad County, in 2008 is reproduced in Table 3.

Table 3 The proportion of positive samples for Fasciola hepatica in sheep and bovine serum by ELISA, in 2008 Crt. C.S.V.A. Positive samples (%) Nr. Sheep Cattle 1. Petris 9.10 6.66 2. Savarsin 6.66 5.55 3. Bata 12.0 6.25 4. Varadia de Mures 6.25 13.33 5. Barzava 6.00 7.14 6. Conop 4.09 10.34 7. Odvos 5.88 14.28 8. Ususau 2.91 0 9. Bocsig 2.98 8.33 10. Cermei 3.94 10.00 11. Apateu 7.77 5.00 12. ChisineuCris 4.76 8.33 13. Simand 3.63 8.33 14. Sintea Mare 4.16 0 15. Sepreus 2.56 9.09 16. Archis 4.76 7.69 17. Carand 6.66 0 18. Santana 2.40 4.16 19. Siria 2.87 0

25 LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010, TIMISOARA

Analyzing the data from Table 3 the highest proportion of positive samples from all sheep, examined by ELISA can be seen in CSV Bata (12.0%) and the lowest proportion was found in CSV Santana (2.40%). These issues can be seen in Figure. 1.

450

400

350

300

250 Total probe

200 Probe pozitive

150

100

50

0

n a a d a ri i v ău i n t nop vo s sig eu Bat rza c Cr r ta iria Pe Co Od u man Archi n Bo Cermei Apateu e Carand Săvâr Bâ Usu n i ep Sâ i Sintea Mare Chi Vărădia de Mure

Fig. 1. Graphical representation of the results of serological tests (ELISA) in sheep monitored for F. hepatica

In cattles serologically examined by ELISA for F. hepatica it was observed that in four localities (Ususau, Sintea Mare, Siria si Carand) the number of positive samples was 0, while in the other four districts the percentage of positive samples was higher than 10 (Cermei, Conop, Varadia de Mures and Odvos).

35

30

25

20 Total probe Probe pozitive 15

10

5

0

i n ta p o ig e u e a ia tri i ava s e e r Ba z no m tan ir P vâ ure o Mar rchi M C Odv Boc Cer Apat A Carand e Bâr Ususău imand epreu Sân Să d Cri i ntea h Si C Vărădia

Fig. 2. Graphical representation of results of serological tests (ELISA) in cattle monitored for F. hepatica

26 LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010 TIMISOARA

Comparing the values of ELISA test between them it can be observedsee that in sheep there were not identified samples with the value 0, and the mean value of samples from sheep was 5.23, compared with samples from cattle that were 6.55. (Fig. 3)

16

14

12

10 Ovine 8 Bovine 6

4

2

0

o u u re i d v ă e h n Bata re s rmei a ra iria Petri rzava u M rc ăvârin Conop Od s Bocsig Ce Apat imand A Ca S Bâ U epreu Sântana de Mu ntea a di Si ă ChiineuCri Văr

Fig. 3. Graphical representation of results of serological tests (ELISA) both in sheep and cattle monitored for F. hepatica

Analysis of correlation between ELISA results and the infestation level in sheep highlighted a medium infestation in the following CSV units: Petris (23.43%), Savarsin (22.87%), Varadia de Mures (25.35%), Conop (27.32%), Archis (28.56%) and Bata (31.12%). Low infestation was observed in Barzava (12.23%), Odvos (13.12%), Ususau 15.32%), Bocsig (13.45%), Cermei (14.55%), Apateu (15.65%), ChisineuCris (16.42%), Simand (14.25%), Sintea Mare (11.28%), Sepreus (10. 12%), Carand (13.68%), Santana 18.12%) and Siria (12.48%). In cattle the correlations revealed that in three localities the infestation level was medium: Petris (25.12%), Savarsin (22.34%) and Archis (24.54%), and in other 12 the infestation level was low: Bata (9.88%), Varadia de Mures (11.22%), Barzava 11.88%), Conop (13.23%), Odvos (12.86), Bocsig (13.78%), Cermei (14.54%), Apateu (14.12%), Chisineu Cris (12.86%), Simand (13.23%), Sepreus (15.32%) and Santana (14.43%). In four localities (Ususau, Sintea Mare, Carand and Siria) positive samples were not detected.

27 LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010, TIMISOARA

Conclusions

Immunological diagnosis of fasciolsis by ELISA method, in sheep and cattle, is a relevant and expeditive method by which the degree of infestation in animals can be checked. Results obtained in sheep by ELISA show an average infestation in animals from six localities and a low infestation in other 13' CSVs. Bovine ELISA test showed negative results in four localities, in three CSV's infestation was medium, and in the other 12 infestation was low

References

1. Adlard, R.D., Baker, S.C., Blair, D., Cribb, H. , Comparison of the second internal transcribed spacer (ribosomal DNA) from populations and species of Fasciolidae (Digenea), Int. J. Parasitol.,1993, 23, 423425. 2. Boray, J.C. , Immunology, Pathobiology and Control of Fasciolosis, MSD AGVET, Rahway, New Jersey, USA., 1997 3. Charlier, J., Meulemeester, L., Claerebout, E., Williams, D., Vercruysse, J., Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of coprological and serological techniques for the diagnosis of fasciolosis in cattle, Vet. Parasitol., 2008, 153 (1/2), 4451. 4. Chauvin, A., Bouvet, G., Boulard, C. , Humoral and cellular immune responses to Fasciola hepatica experimental promary and secondary infection in sheep, Int. J. of Parasitol., 1995, 25, 12271241. 5. Chen, M.G., Mott, K.E. , Progress in assessment of morbidity due to Fasciola hepatica infection. Tropical Diseases Bull., 1990, 87, R1R38. 6. Clery, D., Torgerseon, P., Mulcahy, G. , Immune responses of chronically infected adult cattle to Fasciola hepatica . Int. J. of Parasitol., 1996, 62, 7182. 7. Darabus, Gh.; Oprescu, I.; Morariu, S.; Mederle Narcisa , Parazitologie si boli parazitare, Editura Mirton, Timisoara, 2006 8. Espino, A.M., Dumenigo, B.E., Fernandez, R., Finlay, C.M. , Immunodiagnosis of human fasciolosis by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay using excretorysecretory products, The American J. of Tropical Med. And Hygiene, 1987, 37, 605608. 9. Espino, A.M., Millan, J.C., Finlay, C.M., Detection of antibodies and circulating excretorysecretory antigens for assessing cure in patients with fascioliasis Transactions of the Royal Society oz Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1992, 86, 649. 10. Ghazy, A. A., AbdelRahman, E.H., AbdelAziz, M.M. , Evaluation of ES F5 serum and milk ELISA s for diagnosisi of Fasciola gigantica infection in lactating buffaloes, Online J. of Vet. Res., 2007, 11 (2), 111.

28 LUCRARI STIINTIFICE MEDICINA VETERINARA VOL. XLIII (1), 2010 TIMISOARA

11. Hammouda, N.A., Mansoury, S.T., Azzouni, M.Z., Hussein, E.D ., Detection of circulating antigens in blood to evaluate treatment of fascioliasis, J. of the Egyptean Soc. Of Parasitol., 1997, 27, 365371. 12. Hiilyer, G.V. , Serological diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica . Parasitol. al dia 1993, 17, 130136. 13. KralovaHramadova, I., Spakulova, M., Horackova, E., Turcekova, L., Novobilsky, A., Beck, R., Koudela, B., Marinculic, A., Rajsky, D., Pybus, M., Sequences analysis of ribosomal and mitochondrial genes of the giant liver fluke Fascioloides magna (Trematoda: Fasciolidae): intraspecific variation and differentiation from Fasciola hepatica . J. of Parasitol, 2008, 98 (1), 5867. 14. RiveraMorero, C.A., Santiago, N., Hillyer, G.V. , Evaluation of immunodiagnostic antigens in the excretorysecretory product of Fasciola hepatica . The J. of Parasitol., 1988, 74, 646652. 15. Soule, C.; Boulard, C.; Levieux, D.; Barnouin, J.; Plateau, E. , Fasciolose equine experimentale evolution des parametres enzymatiques et parasitaires . Ann. Rech. Vet., 1989, 20, 295307. 16. Thanh, H. L., Nguen V. D., Mc Manus, D.P., Blair, D. , Human fasciolosis and the presence of hybrid/introgressed forms of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica in Vietnam. Int. Jour. Of Parasitol., 2008, 38 (6), 725730. 17. Yamasaki, H., Aoki, T. And Oya, H., A cysteine proteinase from the liver fluke Fasciola spp.: Purification, characterization, localization and application to immunodiagnosis. Japnese J. of Parasitol., 1989, 38, 373384.

29