Patent ID: 6391569
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: C07K,G01N

Abstract:
A method to detect D. immitis infection in a non-adapted host comprising:(a) contacting a bodily fluid collected from said host with a formulation comprising a recombinant D. immitis Di33 protein under conditions sufficient to form an immunocomplex between said recombinant D. immitis Di33 protein and anti-Di33 antibodies; (b) measuring immunocomplex formation between said recombinant D. immitis Di33 protein and anti-Di33 antibodies, if any, in said fluid, wherein the presence of said immunocomplex indicates that said host is or has recently been infected with D. immitis, wherein said recombinant D. imminitis Di33 protein is not cross-reactive with scrum from a host infected with an organism selected from the group consisting of Taenia taeniaeformis, Toxocara cati, and Ancylostoma tubaeforme at 10 weeks post-infection, and wherein said method detects D. immitis infection resulting in the maturation of a single adult heartworm.