title: Immunohistochemical study of the cyst of Besnoitia besnoiti.
abstract: The present study has been undertaken in order to provide information on the molecular structure of the cysts of Besnoitia besnoiti. To that end, immunohistochemical techniques have been used to investigate the expression of several enzymes and proteins implicated in the cellular membrane permeability of bradyzoites. Paraffin and frozen sections, which were obtained from subcutaneous tissue samples taken from naturally infected cattle (coming from northeast Spain), were treated with a panel of antibodies. These were specific for Na(+), K(+)-ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, calmodulin, S100 protein, heat shock proteins, hsp60, and hsp70. Positive-cysts for the said antibodies were found in 23.3% of the cows studied. Bradyzoites showed a positive immunoreaction in every positive cyst with respect to all these antibodies. In addition to the low percentage of positive animals, it is worth noting that positive and unstained cysts were observed in the same tissue section. These results suggest that bradyzoites may pass through both active and dormant metabolic phases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irigoien
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Cacho
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Bernad
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quílez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Acedo
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000032:analysis; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D021741:Eimeriida; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002147:Calmodulin; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases