Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting tapeworm

A method of diagnosing and treating a mammal infected with of one or more platyhelminthic antigens in a fecal sample, the method comprising:

• (a) contacting a fecal sample from a mammal with one or more antibodies selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) a first antibody capable of specifically binding a coproantigen from a first tapeworm Taenia pisiformis, but not a coproantigen from a second tapeworm Taenia taeniaeformis or a coproantigen from a third tapeworm Dipylidium caninum;
• (ii) a second antibody capable of specifically binding the coproantigen from the second tapeworm, but not the coproantigen from the first tapeworm or the coproantigen from the third tapeworm;
• and
• (iii) a third antibody capable of specifically binding the coproantigen from the third tapeworm, but not the coproantigen from the first tapeworm or the coproantigen from the second tapeworm;
• and
• (b) detecting the presence or absence of the antibody-coproantigen complexes, if any;
• (c) diagnosing the mammal as having:
• (i) a first tapeworm infection if a first tapeworm antibody-coproantigen complex is present;
• (ii) a second tapeworm infection if a second tapeworm antibody-coproantigen complex is present;
• and
• (iii) a third tapeworm infection if a third tapeworm antibody-coproantigen complex is present;
• and
• (d) administering an effective amount of one or more therapeutic agents to treat the mammal having the first tapeworm infection, the second tapeworm infection, or third tapeworm infection or combination thereof.