title: Immune response and antigen recognition in non-pregnant ewes experimentally infected with Neospora caninum tachyzoites.
abstract: The cellular and humoral responses as well as the antigen recognition during the acute stage of a Neospora caninum (NC) infection were investigated in non-pregnant ewes. The experimentally infected ewes developed specific lymphoproliferative and humoral responses within 2 weeks post-infection (PI). The magnitude of the cellular response showed large variations between animals. A significant decrease in the proliferative response to Con A mitogen and N. caninum, Toxoplasma gondii (TG) antigens was recorded on day 21 post-infection (PI). The humoral response and the pattern of antigen recognition were similar among infected ewes. Proteins of 44, 42, 40, 39 and 28 kDa were intensively recognized by the infected animals during the experiment. The 42 and 28 kDa antigens should be considered as useful for the diagnostic of N. caninum infection, as the intensity of recognition infection of the other antigens had decreased markedly 8 weeks post-infection. For some antigens a sequential recognition was recorded. The 59, 54 and 38-37 kDa proteins were frequently recognized by infected sera during the first weeks of the infection, but recognition of these antigens was absent or rare at the end of the experiment. These antigens could be related to the acute stage of the infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Laboratory of Parasitology and Pathology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster B43a, 20, 4000 Liège, Belgium. blosson@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rettigner
authors.forename: Saadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lasri
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Meerschman
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Focant
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Beckers
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Losson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M