The surface coat of the 2nd-stage juveniles (J2) of plant-parasitic nematodes is considered to be involved in interactions with microorganisms in the soil and rhizosphere, as well as with the host plant. Characterization of surface antigens might be important in the development of new nematode control strategies. In this study, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies raised against Meloidogyne javanica, M. incognita and other plant-parasitic nematodes were tested for their binding to the surface coat and secreted–excreted products of M. javanica. Some of the monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies raised against M. incognita showed cross-reactivity with the surface coat of M. javanica. Western blot analysis of M. javanica surface coat extracts revealed labelling of several polypeptides with a 48 kDa main band for the polyclonal antibody IACR-PC Mi 373, and a 55 kDa main band for PC Mj E2. Further characterization of the antigens recognized by the polyclonal antibody PC Mj E2, in planta, showed that they were present in the parasitic stages J2 and J3 and that the surface coat was shed during root penetration. The hypodermis of the infective juveniles was labelled by PC Mj E2 and the monoclonal antibody IACR-Misec 3F.4, suggesting that these surface antigens are produced in the hypodermis. Nematode behaviour was affected by all the antibodies that bound to the surface coat of the pre-parasitic J2, and we demonstrated that the movement pattern of the M. javanica J2 was affected by these antibodies. Continuous binding of the antibodies to the M. javanica surface inhibited the infection of Arabidopsis thaliana roots on agar plates.