Abstract: Twenty-eight Japanese big ear rabbits were randomly divided into control group and experimental group. Twenty rabbits in experimental group were each infected with 3 000 larvae of Trichinella spiralis. Serum and saliva samples were collected at pre-infection and every week after infection, and were examined for IgG antibody by indirect ELISA using T. spiralis muscle larvae excretory-secretory antigen （MLESA）. At 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks afer infection, the positive rate in saliva samples was 10%, 15%, 40%, 65%, 85%, and 95%, respectively; and that of serum samples was 35%, 50%, 80%, 90%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The positive rate was significantly different between saliva and serum samples at 1， 2 and 3 weeks post-infection （χ²=3.58， 5.23， 6.67， P＜0.05）, but no significant difference at 4, 5, and 6 weeks post-infection （χ²=0.12， 1.03， 1.03， P＞0.05） . The results indicate that the indirect ELISA using MLESA to detect IgG antibody in saliva may be helpful for clinical diagnosis of trichinellosis.

Key words: Trichinella spiralis, Muscle larvae, Excretory-secretory antigen, IgG, Saliva, Serum