Evaluation of the development of Toxocara canis eggs in formol 1%, formol 2%, formol 4% and sulfuric acid 0.1N media

Abstract

The objective of this study aimed at evaluating the development of Toxocara canis eggs
in formol 1%, formol 2%, formol 4% and H2SO4 0.1N media, then to choose the best culture
medium for the development of T. canis eggs (T. canis is one of the agents causing toxocariasis
in humans). The diagnosis of this infection in humans due to Toxocara spp. was mainly based on
ELISA technique using secretory/excretory (ES) antigen from the infective T. canis larvae. The
procedure of making ES antigen consisted of some steps, of which, the step of culturing T. canis
eggs to larvae containing secretory/excretory (ES) antigen was the most important. In this study
we cultured T. canis eggs collecting from uterus of adult worms in different media. The studied
result showed that the rate of the development from T. canis eggs to larvae stage containing
secretory/excretory (ES) antigen in H2SO4 0.1 N medium was 83.31%, and this was the medium
showing the best development and the lowest extraordinary rate of T. canis eggs. Besides, the
rates of the development of T. canis egg to the above larvae stage in formol 1%, formol 2%, formol
4% media were 73.33%, 71.05% and 68.61%, respectively. In conclusion, the result of this study
showed that H2SO4 0.1N medium is the best medium for the development of T. canis eggs.