Methods, Devices, Kits and Compositions for Detecting Tapeworm

Abstract

Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting the presence or absence of one or more tapeworm coproantigens in a sample are disclosed herein. The methods, devices, kits and compositions of the present invention may be used to confirm the presence or absence of tapeworm in a fecal sample from a mammal and may also be able to distinguish between different tapeworm species and in the presence of one or more infections with helminths (such as roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and heartworm), Giardia and parvovirus. Confirmation of the presence or absence of tapeworm in the mammal may be made, for example, for the purpose of selecting an optimal course of treating the mammal and/or for the purpose of determining whether the mammal has been rid of the infection after treatment has been initiated.

1 - 93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . A device for detecting the presence or absence of one or more tapeworm coproantigens from a fecal sample, the device comprising a solid support, wherein the solid support has immobilized thereon one or more antibodies selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a first antibody capable of specifically binding a coproantigen from a first tapeworm  taenia pisiformis,  but not a coproantigen from a second tapeworm  Taenia taeniaeformis  or a coproantigen from a third tapeworm  Dipylidium caninum;      (b) a second antibody capable of specifically binding the coproantigen from the second tapeworm, but not the coproantigen from the first tapeworm or the coproantigen from the third tapeworm; and   (c) a third antibody capable of specifically binding the coproantigen from the third tapeworm, but not the coproantigen from the first tapeworm or the coproantigen from the second tapeworm.   
     
     
         95 . The device according to  claim 94 , wherein the solid support further comprises one or more lectins immobilized thereon. 
     
     
         96 . The device of  claim 95 , wherein the solid support has immobilized thereon two or more antibodies. 
     
     
         97 . The device of  claim 95 , wherein the one or more lectins is immobilized onto the solid support. 
     
     
         98 . The device of  claim 94 , further comprising (d) one or more types of  Giardia  coproantigen, roundworm coproantigen, whipworm coproantigen, and/or hookworm coproantigen, wherein the one or more types of roundworm coproantigen, whipworm coproantigen, and hookworm coproantigen are specifically bound to the antibodies. 
     
     
         99 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the solid support has immobilized thereon two or more antibodies. 
     
     
         100 . The device of  claim 94 , further comprising one or more species of tapeworm antigen, wherein the one or more species of tapeworm antigen are specifically bound to the antibodies. 
     
     
         101 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein:
 (a) the first antibody was raised against a whole extract of the first tapeworm, E/S material of the first tapeworm. Worm Wash material of the first tapeworm, or TCA soluble material of the first tapeworm;   (b) the second antibody was raised against a whole extract of the second tapeworm, E/S material of the second tapeworm, Worm Wash material of the first tapeworm, or TCA soluble material of the second tapeworm; or (c) the third antibody was raised against a whole extract of the third tapeworm, E/S material of the third tapeworm, Worm Wash material of the first tapeworm, or TCA soluble material of the third tapeworm.   
     
     
         102 . (canceled) 
     
     
         103 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the first antibody does not specifically cross-react with one or more coproantigens selected from the group consisting of: tapeworm  Taenia taeniaeformis  coproantigen, tapeworm  Dipylidium  coproantigen, hookworm coproantigen, roundworm coproantigen, whipworm coproantigen,  Giardia  coproantigen and. parvovirus coproantigen. 
     
     
         104 . The device of  claim 103 , wherein the hookworm is  Ancylostoma,  the roundworm is  Toxocara,  and the whipworm is  Trichuris.    
     
     
         105 . The device of  claim 103 , wherein the tapeworm  Dipylidium  is  Dipylidium caninum;  the hookworm is  Ancylostoma caninum  or  Ancylostoma iubaeforme ; the roundworm is  Toxocara canis  or  Toxocara cati;  the whipworm is  Trichuris vulpis  or  Trichuris felis;  the  Giardia  is  Giardia lamblia;  and the parvovirus is feline parvovirus or canine parvovirus. 
     
     
         106 . (canceled) 
     
     
         107 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the second antibody does not specifically cross-react with one or more coproantigens selected from the group consisting of: tapeworm  Taenia pisiformis  coproantigen, tapeworm  Dipylidium  coproantigen, hookworm coproantigen, roundworm coproantigen, whipworm coproantigen,  Giardia  coproantigen and parvovirus coproantigen. 
     
     
         108 . The device of  claim 107 , wherein the hookworm is  Ancylostoma,  the roundworm is  Toxocara,  and the whipworm is  Trichuris.    
     
     
         109 . The device of  claim 107 , wherein the tapeworm  Dipylidium  is  Dipylidium canimum;  the hookworm is  Ancylostoma caninum  or  Ancylostoma tubaeforme,  the roundworm is  Toxocara canis  or  Toxocara cati;  the whipworm is  Trichuris vulpis  or  Trichuris felis;  the  Giardia  is  Giardia lamblia;  and the parvovirus is feline parvovirus or canine parvovirus. 
     
     
         110 . (canceled) 
     
     
         111 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the third antibody does not specifically cross-react with one or more coproantigens selected from the group consisting of: tapeworm  Taenia  coproantigen, hookworm coproantigen, roundworm coproantigen, whipworm coproantigen,  Giardia  coproantigen and parvovirus coproantigen. 
     
     
         112 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein the hookworm is  Ancylostoma,  the roundworm is  Toxocara,  and the whipworm is  Trichuris.    
     
     
         113 . The device of  claim 111 , wherein the tapeworm  Taenia  is  Taenia pisiformis  or  Taenia taeniaeformis;  the hookworm is  Ancylostoma caninum  or  Ancylostoma tubaeforme;  the roundworm is  Toxocara canis  or  Toxocara cati;  the whipworm is  Trichuris vulpis  or  Trichuris felis;  the  Giardia  is  Giardia lamblia;  and the parvovirus is feline parvovirus or canine parvovirus. 
     
     
         114 . (canceled) 
     
     
         115 . (canceled) 
     
     
         116 . (canceled) 
     
     
         117 . (canceled) 
     
     
         118 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the first, second and third antibodies do not specifically bind any coproantigen derived from at least one member selected from the group consisting of: roundworm coproantigen, whipworm coproantigen, hookworm coproantigen,  Giardia  coproantigen, and parvovirus coproantigen. 
     
     
         119 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the device further includes one or more reagents for the detection of one or more of the group consisting of: one or more helminthic worm parasites; non-worm parasites, heartworm, one or more viruses, one or more fungi, one or more protozoa and one or more bacteria. 
     
     
         120 . The device according to  claim 94 , wherein the solid support further has immobilized thereon one or more antibodies selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) an antibody capable of specifically binding a roundworm coproantigen, but not a coproantigen derived from the group consisting of whipworm, hookworm, tapeworm,  Giardia  and parvovirus;   (ii) an antibody capable of specifically binding a whipworm coproantigen, but not a coproantigen derived from the group consisting of roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm,  Giardia  and parvovirus; and   (iii) an antibody capable of specifically binding a hookworm coproantigen, but not a coproantigen derived from the group consisting of whipworm, roundworm, tapeworm,  Giardia  and parvovirus;   (iv) an antibody capable of specifically binding  Giardia  coproantigen, but not coproantigen selected from the group consisting of roundworm coproantigen, whipworm coproantigen coproantigen, hookworm coproantigen, tapeworm  Taenia  coproantigen, tapeworm  Dipylidium  coproantigen and parvovirus coproantigen; and   (v) an antibody capable of specifically binding parvovirus coproantigen, but not coproantigen selected from the group consisting of roundworm coproantigen, whipworm coproantigen, hookworm coproantigen, tapeworm  Taenia  coproantigen, tapeworm  Dipylidium  coproantigen, and  Giardia  coproantigen.   
     
     
         121 . The device according to  claim 120 , wherein the solid support has two or more antibodies, three or more antibodies, four or more antibodies, five or more antibodies, six or more antibodies, seven or more antibodies or eight or more antibodies. 
     
     
         122 . The device of  claim 120 , wherein the hookworm is  Anyclostoma,  the roundworm is  Toxocara  and the whipworm is  Trichuris.    
     
     
         123 . The device of  claim 122 , wherein the hookworm is  Ancylostoma caninum  or  Ancylostoma tubaeforme;  the roundworm is  Toxocara cati;  or  Toxocara cati;  the whipworm is  Trichuris vulpis  or  Trichuris felis;  the  Giardia  is  Giardia lamblia;  and the parvovirus is feline parvovirus or canine parvovirus. 
     
     
         124 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the device is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay device. 
     
     
         125 . The device of  claim 124 , wherein the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay device is a lateral flow immunoassay device. 
     
     
         126 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein the sample is from a canine or a feline. 
     
     
         127 . The device of  claim 94 , wherein at least one of the coproantigens is glycosylated. 
     
     
         128 . A kit for detection of one or more platyhelminthic coproantigens in a mammalian sample, the kit comprising the device of  claim 94 , and one or more reagents sufficient for the detection of the one or more coproantigens. 
     
     
         129 . The kit of  claim 128 , wherein the one or more reagents are selected from the group consisting of one or more indicator reagents, one or more antibody labeling compounds, one or more antibodies, one or more antigen capture reagents, one or more inhibitors, and one or more wash reagents.