The first objective of this project was to compare glutaraldehyde fixed bovine red blood cells and fresh sheep red blood cells for use in the tanned cell indirect haemagglutination (IDH) technique. The second was to evaluate a saline extract of Taenia crassiceps metacestodes for use as antigen in sérodiagnostic techniques for Taenia saginata infection in cattle by comparing this extract with an extract of T. saginata proglottides. This evaluation was carried out using the IDH and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques and sera from cattle both naturally and experimentally infected with T. saginata cysticerci. Tanned and glutaraldehyde fixed bovine red blood cells were more sensitive than tanned sheep red blood cells when used in the IDH technique. T. saginata antigen gave significantly higher titres with positive sera than T. crassiceps antigen in IDH test especially with glutareldehyde fixed bovine red blood cells, but there was no significant difference in the ELISA values obtained with these two antigens. T. crassiceps metacestodes therefore, appeared to be a good possible source of antigen for use as an alternative to T_. saginata. The IDH and ELISA techniques both gave very similar results when the serum antibody levels of cattle either naturally or experimentally infected with T. saginata cysticerci were compared with control cattle. Experimentally infected cattle, however, had higher antibody titres than the naturally infected cattle.

The first objective of this project was to compare glutaraldehyde fixed bovine red blood cells and fresh sheep red blood cells for use in the tanned cell indirect haemagglutination (IDH) technique. The second was to evaluate a saline extract of Taenia crassiceps metacestodes for use as antigen in sérodiagnostic techniques for Taenia saginata infection in cattle by comparing this extract with an extract of T. saginata proglottides. This evaluation was carried out using the IDH and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques and sera from cattle both naturally and experimentally infected with T. saginata cysticerci. Tanned and glutaraldehyde fixed bovine red blood cells were more sensitive than tanned sheep red blood cells when used in the IDH technique. T. saginata antigen gave significantly higher titres with positive sera than T. crassiceps antigen in IDH test especially with glutareldehyde fixed bovine red blood cells, but there was no significant difference in the ELISA values obtained with these two antigens. T. crassiceps metacestodes therefore, appeared to be a good possible source of antigen for use as an alternative to T_. saginata. The IDH and ELISA techniques both gave very similar results when the serum antibody levels of cattle either naturally or experimentally infected with T. saginata cysticerci were compared with control cattle. Experimentally infected cattle, however, had higher antibody titres than the naturally infected cattle.