Project Number: 1265-32000-076-26
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: May 01, 2007
End Date: Oct 31, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is produce diagnostic antigens for use in the epidemiological surveillance of Trichinella infection in pigs in the United States and Europe.

Approach:
Trichinella spiralis excretory secretory (ES) antigens will be produced by the ARS laboratory and provided to the Cooperator at a reimbursable cost of $125 per milligram. ES antigens will be subject to quality testing prior to acceptance for use in this project. Production of ES antigens by the ARS laboratory will incorporate the following general methods. Rats will be orally inoculated with Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae. At 40 days post-inoculation, rats will be euthanized and muscle larvae will be collected from tissues. Muscle larvae will be placed into culture and excretory/secretory products will be collected, filtered and concentrated. The concentrated antigen will be lyophilized and stored frozen until used by the Cooperator. The ELISA will be evaluated and validated by ARS and the Cooperator. ARS and the Cooperator will work with diagnostic laboratories in the U.S. and Europe to implement proper use of the ELISA test for Trichinella in pigs and wildlife. New EU legislation and development of herd certification programs in the U.S. and Europe dictate that the ELISA test will be required as an epidemiological tool. The availability of a high quality antigen, such as the ES antigen produced by this ARS laboratory, is critical to implementation of these plans.