Identification of a 'disease-associated' antigen in pigeon breeder's disease by western blotting.
Sera from 9 symptomatic and 7 asymptomatic pigeon breeders were analyzed for their reactivity to pigeon serum by western blotting. All 9 symptomatic sera (9/9; 100%) and only 4 of 7 (57%) asymptomatic sera revealed specific antibodies. The immunoreactivity patterns of the sera varied: the majority of the sera reacted to antigens having molecular weights of 220 kD or more (9/16 sera), 98 kD (8/16 sera), and 86 kKD (8/16 sera). However, only sera from symptomatic breeders recognized an antigen of approximate molecular weight of 29-32 kD (9/9; 100% of symptomatics). We conclude that this antigen is 'disease associated' and may be useful in the diagnosis of pigeon breeder's disease.
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa.
P M
PM
de Beer
P J
PJ
Bouic
J R
JR
Joubert
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D001716:Bird Fancier's Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight
D000941:Antigens