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Circulating antigen of Toxocara canis was demonstrated in the sera
of experimentally infected rabbits and in patients suspected of the
infection. The antigen appeared in the circulation between days 7 14 post
infection in animals infected with 5,000 to 20,000 embryonated eggs of the
parasite and on 3rd 4th day in rabbits infected with 50,000 eggs.
Afterwards, it was present in the sera at irregular intervals until the
end of observation period, either free or in complexes with specific
antibodies of the IgG or IgM class. Western-blot analysis of infected sera
detected two components of the antigen at approximately 32 and 92
kDa. Detection of the antigen in examined serum samples may aid the
diagnosis of toxocaral infection, particularly in cases suspected of
unspecific reactions in the tests for antibodies.