title: Hematological findings and antibody responses in Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with Babesia microti.
abstract: Hematological findings during the course of infection and the antibody response in Syrian hamsters infected with Babesia microti were examined. A macrocytic hypochromic anemia with an increase of the reticulocyte count was detected as a rise in the parasitized erythrocyte rate. White blood cell counts also remarkedly increased with the increases of both neutrophils and active-shaped monocytes, and thus they particularly play an important role in eliminating the parasite. In Western blotting with the sera from the hamsters infected with B. microti, a 38 kDa protozoan antigen reacted to the early-term sera, and additionally 28, 32, and 34 kDa antigens also reacted to the medium- and latter-term, and convalescent sera. These antigens were immunodominant and the antibodies against these antigens had also important roles for inhibition of this parasite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ike
authors.forename: Kiyoka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D000748:Anemia, Macrocytic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D041001:Babesia microti / Q000276:immunology*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006224:Cricetinae; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D006400:Hematocrit; D008647:Mesocricetus; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan