Antigenic diversity of Cowdria ruminantium isolates determined by cross-immunity.
Antigenic diversity in five stocks of the tick-borne rickettsia Cowdria ruminantium, the causal agent of heartwater disease of ruminants, was studied by cross-immunity trials in goats and sheep. Complete absence of cross-protection was found only between the Kümm and Kwanyanga stocks, and in all other combinations there were various degrees of cross-immunity. Immunological strain differences were more pronounced in goats than in sheep.
Jongejan
F
F
Department of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Protozoology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Thielemans
M J
MJ
Brière
C
C
Uilenberg
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006041:Goats; D006357:Heartwater Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D012287:Rickettsiaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial