Determination of Immune Reactive Proteins of Cysticercus Tenuicollis from Naturally Infected Sheep and Goats in AL-Muthanna Province /Iraq

Abstract

In the current study, 8 samples of Cysticercus tenuicollis cysts were collected from sheep and goats (four cysts for each) from slaughterhouses of AL-Muthanna province during the period from January - February 2023. The study aimed to identify the immune reactive proteins present in the cysts fluid, using SDS-PAGE technique (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) and Western blot technique, by using the Protein Ladder with molecular weights of 10.5 - 14 - 22 - 29 - 42 - 51 - 62 – 70 – 95 – 130 – 175 KDa.

The results of the SDS-PAGE showed the presence of 7 bands of proteins in the cyst fluid, molecular weight in the range of 120 - 27 kDa, and molecular weights of 120 - 90 - 70 - 60 - 47 - 38 - 27 kDa. Each of them is a major protein with some variations. It turned out that proteins with a molecular weight of 90-70-60 kDa were dominant, as they had a greater density than the others did, and they appeared in all eight samples. As for the rest of the molecular weights, their appearance differed from one sample to another.

The results of the Western blotting showed the presence of 6 bands of proteins, and they had molecular weights within the range of 120-27 kDa.The proteins with molecular weights of 90 - 60 - 38 kDa appeared in all eight samples very clearly, which indicates that they are Specific immune reactive proteins in the cysts fluid. The Western blot technique is performed on Cysticercus tenuicollis from goats and sheep for the first time in Iraq.