Analysis of larval antigens of Cephalopina titillatorin the camel mucus for diagnosis of infestation

Serodiagnostic test for the diagnosis of infestation of camels by the camel nasal fly, Cephalopina titillatorwas examined. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to analyze and compare the production of antibodies in the camel mucus against salivary gland contents (SGc), excretory-secretory products (ESP), digestive tract contents (DTc) antigens from 2ndand 3rdlarval instars of C. titillatorsampled in summer and winter. ELISA characterization of larval antigens showed that the presence of C. titillatorlarvae in camel, Camelus dromedarius, resulted in higher antibody titer in mucus samples of infested camels collected in winter than those collected in summer in both L2 and L3. In L2, the most antigenic secretion was SGc > ESP > DTc, but in L3 ESP > SGc > DTc. The antibody titers in camel mucus are affected by the intensity of infestation with C. titillator.