title: Effect of Mycobacterium phlei on the development of immunity to Babesia bigemina.
abstract: The immunomodulatory role of Mycobacterium phlei against intracellular blood protozoan Babesia bigemina was demonstrated following experimental immunisation and challenge in bovine calves. A lysate of erythrocytes infected (6 x 10(9)) with B. bigemina was used as a source of dead antigen either with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) or with a trypsinised culture of M. phlei as a non-specific immunomodulation (NSI) agent with appropriate controls. Following virulent challenge with B. bigemina infected erythrocytes (1 x 10(7)), the NSI printed calves showed 100% protection, while the dead antigen alone with FCA afforded 75% protection. The protective status of the immunising regimes was studied by clinicopathological parameters and assessment of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The role of babesial dead antigen and the effects of M. phlei on the development of immunity to B. bigemina is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tewari
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001403:Babesia / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D009168:Mycobacterium phlei / Q000276:immunology*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013984:Tick Infestations; D014774:Virulence