ViroStat has released two new rabbit monoclonal antibodies that are reactive with oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum.
Cryptosporidium parvum is a major worldwide cause of gastrointestinal diarrheal disease. This is due in great part to the environmental resilience of its infectious oocyst stage. These cysts are resistant to the usual levels of chloride used to disinfect swimming pools and treated wastewater. They are also resistant to freezing and changes in pH. Infection occurs via the faecal-oral route when the cysts are ingested. During infection large quantities of new cysts are shed in the faeces.
These MabyRabs are specific to a cell wall glyco-antigen of the cyst. They form a pair to detect low levels of cysts by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). They also stain the cysts by immunofluorescence and have potential in other immunoassay detection methods.
Go to the ViroStat website to download the data sheet for these new antibodies.