This study was undertaken to investigate antigenic characteristics of crude sheep cyst fluid antigen (cAg) and partially purified cyst fluid antigen (AgB) of sheep by using SDS-PAGE method, to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA for the diagnosis of sheep hydatidosis.

A total of 15 different polypeptide bands were detected that molecular weights varying between 8 and 205 kDa in SDS-PAGE analysis of cAg while six different polypeptide bands were obtained between 16 and 68 kDa at the electrophoretic analysis of AgB. At the electrophoretic analysis of both cAg and AgB the 66 kDa band was evaluated as the most distinct band. Besides, three different subunite of Antigen B (16, 24, 29 kDa) were obtained at SDS-PAGE analysis of AgB.

Diagnostic effectiveness of both antigens at sheep hydatidosis were detected by using of ELISA. As a results, sensitivity of AgB was calculated as 91.6% while specificity was 77.1%. However, these rates were 97.1% and 60.4% for cAg, respectively.