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Immune Response to Babesia bigemina Infection in Pregnant Cows
Author(s) -
GARCÍA T D,
FIGUEROA M J V,
RAMOS A J A,
ROJAS M C,
CANTÓ A G J,
FALCÓN N A,
ÁLVAREZ M J A
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1307.019
Subject(s) - babesia bigemina , parasitemia , immune system , babesiosis , biology , andrology , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , cd8 , babesia , immunology , medicine , virology , plasmodium falciparum , biochemistry , malaria , in vitro
A bstract : The objective of this study was to characterize the immune response of Babesia bigemina ‐infected cows during the second trimester of pregnancy. Twelve animals were divided into four groups (I, II, III, IV); groups I and II were pregnant cows, groups III and IV were non‐pregnant cows. Groups I and III were infected with a virulent strain of Babesia bigemina , the doses utilized was 1 × 10 7 infected red blood cells IM. Groups II and IV were noninfected control groups. All the infected animals were severely affected; at days 5‐7 post‐inoculation (DPI) they showed clinical signs: fever (40‐41.5°C), packed cell volume reduction, and parasitemia, and specific treatment was required. The immune response was monitored daily from 0‐11 DPI. As shown by flow cytometry analysis, in infected animals the distribution in peripheral blood of the T‐cells subpopulations (CD4 + , CD8 + , γδ T‐cells) was not affected when compared to the control groups. By ELISA, IFN‐γ production showed a trend to increase in plasma between 6‐10 DPI; noninfected cows showed the lowest optical density values. By RT‐PCR, a Th1 predominant response was observed, TNFα, INF‐γ and iNOs were detected. In contrast IL‐4 and IL‐10 were weak or undetected. The results of this trial will be discussed.