Roundworm coproantigen detection

• US 7,736,660 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Flynn, Laurie A., Elsemore, David Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Swartz; Rodney P.
• Application Number:
  US11/763,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 424/130.1, 424/141.1, 424/151.1, 424/184.1, 424/265.1, 435/4, 435/7.1, 435/287.1
• US Class Current: 424/265.1
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/18 against material from animals or humans
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/4353 from nematodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/06 Gastro-intestinal diseases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5308 for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites

Abstract

A composition, device, kit and method for detecting the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample. The composition, device, kit and method of the present invention may be used to confirm the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample from a mammal that may also be infected with one or more of hookworm, whipworm, and heartworm.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the presence or absence of roundworm Toxocara antigen in a mammalian fecal preparation, the method comprising:

(a) contacting a mammalian fecal preparation with one or more polyclonal antibodies specific for one or more roundworm Toxocara antigens; and

(b) detecting the presence or absence of (i) the one or more roundworm antigens or (ii) one or more roundworm antibody/antigen complexes, wherein the roundworm antigens specifically bind with the one or more antibodies to form the antibody/antigen complexes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mammal is a canine or a feline.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the one or more antibodies are labeled.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the roundworm Toxocara antigen is Toxocara canis antigen or Toxocara cati antigen.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more antibodies are raised using an extract of whole Toxocara roundworm, an extract of Toxocara roundworm intestine or an extract of Toxocara roundworm reproductive organ.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the roundworm is Toxocara canis.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting the presence or absence of one or more antibody/antigen complexes further includes the step of providing a secondary antibody that binds to the one or more antibody/antigen complexes.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the secondary antibody is labeled.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more antibodies are immobilized on a solid support.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the solid support forms part of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay device is a lateral flow immunoassay device.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of contacting the fecal preparation with one or more reagents to detect one or more of the group consisting of:

one or more non-roundworm worm parasites, one or more non-worm parasites, one or more viruses, and one or more bacteria.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the reagents for the detection of any one or all of the one or more non-roundworm worm parasites, the one or more non-worm parasites, the one or more viruses and the one or more bacteria are one or more antibodies or one or more antigens recognized by antibodies specific for the one or more non-roundworm worm parasites, the one or more non-worm parasites, the one or more viruses or the one or more bacteria.

14. A method of diagnosing an intestinal Toxocara roundworm infection in a mammal, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a fecal sample from the mammal;

(b) preparing a fecal preparation from the fecal sample

(c) contacting the fecal preparation with one or more antibodies specific for one or more roundworm Toxocara antigens;

(d) detecting the presence or absence of;

(i) the one or more Toxocara roundworm antigens or

(ii) one or more Toxocara roundworm antibody/antigen complexes; and

(e) diagnosing the mammal as having or as not having the roundworm infection based on the detection of the presence or absence of the one or more roundworm antigens or detecting the presence or absence of the one or more roundworm antibody/antigen complexes, wherein the roundworm antigens specifically bind with the one or more antibodies to form the antibody/antigen complexes.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more antibodies are polyclonal.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the mammal is a canine or a feline.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein one or more of the one or more antibodies are labeled.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the roundworm is Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more antibodies are obtained by immunization with an extract of whole Toxocara roundworm, an extract of Toxocara roundworm intestine or an extract of Toxocara roundworm reproductive organ.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the roundworm is Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the detecting the presence or absence of one or more antibody/antigen complexes further includes the step of providing a secondary antibody that binds to the one or more antibody/antigen complexes.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the secondary antibody is labeled.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more antibodies are immobilized on a solid support.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the solid support forms part of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay device is a lateral flow immunoassay device.

26. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of contacting the fecal preparation with one or more reagents to detect one or more of the group consisting of:

one or more non-roundworm worm parasites, one or more non-worm parasites, one or more viruses, and one or more bacteria.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the reagents for the detection of any one or all of the one or more non-roundworm worm parasites, the one or more non-worm parasites, the one or more viruses and the one or more bacteria are one or more antibodies or one or more antigens recognized by antibodies specific for the one or more non-roundworm worm parasites, the one or more non-worm parasites, the one or more viruses or the one or more bacteria.