Serodiagnosis of haemonchosis with a somatic antigen (Hc26) in several breeds of sheep.

Sera from 53 sheep belonging to Castellano, Churro, Manchego, and Merino breeds were analyzed to test the diagnostic value of a 26-kD antigen from adult Haemonchus contortus at prepatency and early and late patency of experimental haemonchosis. Animals that received zero, 1, or 2 infections with the parasite were tested. In addition, sera from 20 experimentally infected and 10 noninfected Texel sheep were used to test the antigen. Sera from 37 infected animals at prepatency as well as at patency in primary and secondary infection were found positive with the 26-kD antigen. However, sera from 10 animals with the lowest worm burdens (second infection) did not recognize the antigen during early patency (day 28 postinfection). IgG1 was the only isotype implicated in antigen recognition because IgG2, IgA, and IgM, in the same sera, showed no reactivity with the peptide. Antigen specificity was confirmed because hyperimmune sera against infective larvae and adult stages of the most common gastrointestinal nematodes found in natural infections in sheep (Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Teladorsagia circumcincta) did not recognize this peptide. The antigen was recognized only by anti-adult H. contortus hyperimmune sera and appeared to be absent in the L3 parasite stage. In addition, the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the diagnostic peptide is reported.     

Serum and skin IgA concentrations in normal and atopic dogs

Objective To compare serum and skin surface IgA concentrations from atopic and normal dogs.
Procedure IgA concentrations in sera and skin washings of 20 clinically normal dogs that had no history of pruritus or skin disease were compared to those obtained in 20 dogs with a diagnosis of atopy determined by history, clinical examination and positive intradermal skin test.
Results There was no significant difference in the mean serum IgA concentration in normal dogs (252 ± 187 mg/L) versus atopic animals (314 ± 327). When skin washings from all sites in both groups were compared, atopic dogs had significantly greater concentrations of IgA in their skin washings than normal dogs as evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunoassay (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the individual sites of the skin washings of atopic and normal dogs.
Conclusion IgA concentrations of skin washings in atopic dogs were greater than in normal dogs. Further investigations need to determine if the greater concentrations were caused by nonspecific inflammation or by secretion of allergen-specific IgA onto the skin surface.     

Malignant catarrhal fever virus specific secretory IgA in nasal secretions of wildebeest calves

Wildebeest IgA was isolated from nasal secretions and precolostrum. It was indentified by cross-reaction with anti-human and anti-bovine IgA sera.

Nasal secretions collected from wildebeest calves over 3 months old had malignant catarrhal fever virus neutralizing antibody activity. They also contained specific IgA to the virus as detected by indirect immunofluorescence. It is suggested that production of malignant catarrhal fever virus specific IgA in the nasal cavity, contributes to the elimination and cassation of the virus shed in the nasal secretions of wildebeest calves over 3 months. old.     

The isotypic, allotypic and idiotypic heterogeneity of bovine IgG2

The antigenic heterogeneity of bovine IgG2 observed by single radial diffusion, when different cattle sera are tested with a panel of IgG2-specific reagents, was examined by a combination of biochemical and serological assays. Using an autologous anti-A1 allotypic reagent, the major antigenic heterogeneity detected by swine, rabbit and goat anti-IgG2 reagents was due to their propensity to recognize the AI allotope. All heterologous reagents and most monoclonals so far test are biased in their specificity toward this determinant. A second type of serological heterogeneity, recognized by only certain heterologous reagents, was their specificity for what we have called the IgG2b isotype of IgG2. This isotype is found in all cattle, has a restricted ion-exchange elution behaviour and does not bear a-locus allotypic determinants; molecules bearing the latter are now designated IgG2a. IgG2a elutes from anion-exchange columns in subpopulations over a wide range of ionic strength including fractions which contain IgG2b and IgG1 as well. Using IgG2a from an AI homozygous steer, these subpopulations were shown to result from idiotypic variation which appears to primarily reside in their VH-regions.     

Genetic differences in the frequency of the hinge variants of porcine IgA is breed dependent

The distribution of the IgA(a) and IgA(b) alleles of porcine IgA in over 160 randomly-selected animals revealed an abundance of heterozygotes but only two b/b homozygotes. Since the IgA(b) allotype is a splice site mutant lacking two-thirds of the hinge, this study tests the hypothesis that pigs with this genotype may be at a selective disadvantage while heterozygous individuals may be at some advantage.This hypothesis was tested by collecting data on 374 animals of known breed and often parentage. We show here that when breed was not considered, young animals of known parentage had genotypic frequencies identical to that expected for Mendelian alleles but that a/b heterozygotes were overrepresented in adults. However, when analyzed with regard to breed, a very strong association between breed and the frequency of the IgA(a) and IgA(b) alleles was discovered. Meishan and NIH minipigs were homozygous for IgA while heterozygotes predominated in Berkshire, Chester White, Durocs, Hampshire and Landrace. Animals homozygous for IgA(b) were best represented in the White Cross line. We show here that this very strong breed dependency of IgA allotypy in swine can produce a sample bias that can explain why only two b/b homozygotes (1.3%) were found in the 160 randomly-selected samples since the original samples came from primarily Landrace and Yorkshire animals. The expected frequency of b/b homozygotes in these breeds would be <3%. Thus, the data presented here reject the hypothesis that swine homozygous for a trait that results in loss of two-thirds of the IgA hinge, are selected against and that heterozygotes are positively selected. Rather, the study shows that IgA(a) and IgA(b) appear to be simple, breed-dependent allotypic markers.     

Proline-glutamic acid-proline-lysine repetition peptide as an antigen for the serological diagnosis of strangles

The reactivity of the proline-glutamic acid-proline-lysine (PEPK) repetition peptide antigen in 3176 serum samples was investigated to evaluate its utility as an antigen for the serological diagnosis of strangles. The reactivity of the sera of horses infected with Streptococcus equi subspecies equi was high when the peptide had several PEPK repetitions. However, as the number of PEPK repetitions increased, the reactivity of the antigen with the sera of horses infected with Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus also increased. In horses infected experimentally with S equi, the reactivity of the PEPK antigen with five repetitions increased one week after inoculation and continued to increase during the following four weeks. The optical density (OD) values of test sera from horses infected experimentally with S equi and sera from horses that had recovered from strangles were high. The od values of sera from horses that had recovered from an experimental infection with S zooepidemicus and of sera from healthy horses were comparatively low.     

Local intestinal immune response to Escherichia Coli heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin: LT antitoxin levels in healthy, diseased and antigen-fed pigs

With purified LT toxin and IgA, specific anti-LT enterotoxin activity was demonstrated in small intestinal contents of 27 pigs. After 60 days of age, rise in intestinal LT antitoxin titer was observed. Feeding LT containing E. coli antigen increased LT antibody levels in the intestinal secretions, but decreased antibody titers in sera. In post-weaning E. coli diarrhea LT antibody levels in intestinal secretions and sera decreased significantly. This phenomenon can be related to the occurrence of the frequently observed post-weaning E. coli diarrhea.     

Immunoglobulin classes synthesised by the chicken Harderian gland after local immunisation.

The immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in tears and sera were compared after antigen administration (salmonella O antigen) by eyedrop and injection into the nictitating membrane, to determine the Ig classes synthesised by the plasma cells in the chicken Harderian gland. Samples of tears and sera were collected from immunised and control birds between 24 hours and 24 days after the antigen or sterile saline was administered. Samples were assayed for IgA, IgG and IgM concentrations using radial immunodiffusion. It is suggested that most of the IgG found in tears after local immunisation has an extraglandular origin.     

猪圆环病毒2型特异性IgA间接ELISA检测方法的建立与初步应用

为检测猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)特异性IgA抗体,本研究以纯化的PCV2 Cap蛋白作为包被抗原,以辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)标记的羊抗猪IgA为二抗,建立检测PCV2特异性IgA抗体的间接ELISA方法.确定最佳抗原包被浓度为200 ng/孔,HRP标记羊抗猪IgA的最佳稀释度为1∶30 000.所建立方法与抗猪瘟病毒等病原的抗体间无交叉反应.结果表明该方法具有较好的特异性,组内和组间重复性试验的变异系数介于0.12％～5.47％,具有较好的可重复性.该方法为进一步研究猪感染PCV2和PCV2疫苗免疫后特异性黏膜IgA水平及进行黏膜免疫评价提供了有效的检测方法.     

Phage displayed peptides and anti-idiotype antibodies recognised by a monoclonal antibody directed against a diagnostic antigen of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae

A monoclonal antibody (Mab 4.52) raised against Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) cell lysate was used as a template to obtain substitute antigens recognised by its paratope. Two approaches were investigated: a 17-mer random peptide library displayed on the surface of a filamentous phage was screened by panning on the immobilised Mab 4.52 and anti-idiotype antibodies were generated by immunising a chicken with the F(ab')(2) fragments of the antibody. Analysis of the peptide sequences displayed by the isolated phages identified two peptides. Both contained two cysteine residues and had identical or similar amino acids in positions 5 (P), 8 (I/L) and 13 (L). The fusion phages were also recognised by Mab 4.52 in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and binding was shown by surface plasmon resonance. One of the peptides was a markedly better inhibitor (67%) of the binding of Mab 4.52 to its original antigen than the other (20%) at 1mg/ml. After absorption, to remove isotypic and allotypic reactivities, the anti-idiotype IgY was specifically recognised by Mab 4.52 in ELISA and was able to inhibit its binding to the original antigen, whereas anti-idiotype antibodies raised against a bluetongue virus-specific antibody had no effect. In spite of unequivocal binding of the anti-idiotype antibodies and the fusion phages to the paratope of Mab 4.52, goat antisera appeared not to react with either of the surrogate antigens. In contrast, the test sera bound to the original antigen suggesting that Mab 4.52 does not recognise exactly the same antigenic site as antibodies in the goat antisera.     

猪初乳中IgA的提纯与鉴定

文章从猪初乳中提纯得到IgA。猪初乳经过饱和硫酸铵盐析后,依次应用Seph-adex G-200凝胶过滤、DEAE-纤维素-52离子交换和Sephadex G-200凝胶过滤层析,分离得到猪IgA,经双相扩散免疫,免疫电泳和SDS-PAGE电泳鉴定可达电泳纯。     

Antibody reactivity to Cryptosporidium parvum in saliva of calves after experimental infection

Antibodies against Cryptosporidium parvum in the saliva and sera of three calves experimentally infected with this parasite were examined by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test and immunoblotting. Salivary anti-C. parvum IgA antibody appeared on day 12 post-challenge and had a tendency to increase transiently between days 15 and 30 post-challenge. Salivary anti-C. parvum IgG antibody levels showed a gradual increase along with the change in IgA antibody levels during the infection. In contrast, serum anti-C. parvum IgA antibody levels showed only a slight increase between days 15 and 30 post-challenge. Serum anti-C. parvum IgG antibody levels rose on day 12 post-challenge and one calf maintained relatively high level up to the end of the experiment. In immunoblotting, an antigen with a molecular mass of 15 kDa was found to react strongly to salivary IgA antibody and a 27 kDa antigen to react to serum IgG antibody.     

猪A型口蹄疫病毒特异性IgA抗体间接ELISA检测方法的建立与初步应用

为建立一种检测口蹄疫病毒（foot-and-mouth disease virus,FMDV）特异性IgA抗体的检测方法,本研究以原核表达系统表达纯化的FMDV结构蛋白VP1作为包被抗原,以鼠抗猪IgA单克隆抗体为二抗,辣根过氧化酶标记的羊抗鼠IgG抗体为三抗,建立猪A型FMDV特异性IgA抗体间接ELISA检测方法。确定抗原包被浓度为3.50 μg/mL,二抗与三抗的最佳稀释度为1∶10 000,二抗和三抗作用时间均为30 min。所建立的方法与抗猪瘟病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸道综合征病毒等病原的特异性IgA抗体间无交叉反应,A型口蹄疫感染样品的阳性检出率在90%以上,批内和批间重复性试验的变异系数介于3.16%~9.76%。该方法为监测FMDV特异性IgA抗体水平变化规律及猪的黏膜免疫效果评价及口蹄疫的早期诊断提供了一种新方法。     

Humoral immune responses of experimentally Eimeria ninakholyakimovae-infected goat kids

Although cellular immune reactions seem to be crucial for protective immune responses in Eimeria spp. infections, there are also evidences on an active involvement of the humoral counterpart. In the present study, we have analyzed the humoral response of goat kids subjected to primary and challenge infections with Eimeria ninakholyakimovae. Specific levels of IgG and IgM in serum samples and IgA in the ileal mucus were estimated. In infected kids, significantly increased levels of IgG were observed from 3 weeks post infection onwards in addition to an enhancement of specific IgM and secretory IgA levels. A wide range of peptides of sporulated oocyst antigen (SOA) was recognized by specific IgG as determined by immunoblotting. However, no correlations were found between immunoglobulin levels and OPG counts after challenge infection. Overall, these data indicate a significant specific humoral response of E. ninakohlyakimovae-infected goat kids that does not seem to convey immunoprotection. Further studies should be addressed to clarify if the lack of correlation might be associated to the type of antigen used for the immunoenzimatic assays, the age of the animals or other factors.     

Influence of Enterococcus faecium SF68 Probiotic on Giardiasis in Dogs

Background: Giardiasis is a common, potentially zoonotic disease, and dogs often harbor and shed cysts without showing clinical signs. Treatment with the probiotic Enterococcus faecium SF68 has been shown to stimulate mucosal and systemic immunity in a variety of animal models and in young dogs, and to reduce giardial cyst and antigen shedding in rodents.
Hypothesis: Adult dogs with chronic naturally acquired giardiasis will have decreased giardial fecal cyst and antigen shedding and increased innate and adaptive immunity after 6 weeks probiotic treatment with E. faecium SF68.
Animals: Twenty adult dogs.
Methods: After a 6-week dietary equilibration period, dogs were randomized to receive E. faecium SF68 or placebo for 6 weeks, and then crossed over to the alternate treatment. We measured cyst shedding, fecal giardial antigen, fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration, and circulating leukocyte phagocytic activity at multiple timepoints to determine the effect of E. faecium SF68 on giardiasis and immune responses in these dogs.
Results: No differences were observed between placebo or E. faecium SF68 treatment for giardial cyst shedding, fecal antigen shedding, fecal IgA concentration, or leukocyte phagocytic activity.
Conclusions: Short-term treatment with E. faecium SF68 of dogs with chronic naturally acquired subclinical giardiasis fails to affect giardial cyst shedding or antigen content and does not alter innate or adaptive immune responses.     

Development and Primary Application of Indirect ELISA Method for Detecting the IgA Antibody against Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus Type A in Porcine

An indirect ELISA for detecting the IgA antibody against porcine foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type A was developed by using purified FMDV structural protein VP1 as coating antigen, mouse anti-pig IgA monoclonal antibody as second antibody and HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG as third antibody.The concentration of coating antigen was optimized as 3.50 μg/mL,the dilution and reaction time of second antibody and third antibody were optimized as 1:10 000 and 30 min, respectively.There was no cross-reactivity with anti-CSFV, PRRSV and other pathogen specific IgA antibodies.The positive detection rate of FMDV type A infectedsamples was above 90%.The coefficient variation of intra-and inter-assay was ranged from 3.16% to 9.76%.The ELISA method described in this study was proved to be specific and rapid for the detection of FMDV specific IgA antibody.It was potential to be applied for detection the level of FMDV specific IgA and evaluate the effect of mucosal immunity.Besides,it provided a new method for clinical diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease.     

B-cell epitopes recognized by Chinese water buffaloes (Bos buffelus) on the 22 kDa tegumental membrane-associated antigen (Sj-22) of the Asiatic bloodfluke, Schistosoma japonicum.

The 22.6 kDa tegumental membrane-associated antigen of schistosomes is of recognized importance in immunity to schistosomiasis. In China, bovines are known to play an important role in the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum. Ten buffaloes (Bos buffelus) were vaccinated with a recombinant form (reSj-22) of the S. japonicum 22.6 kDa tegumental antigen (Sj-22) and the sera were used to identify and map possible linear B-cell epitopes on this molecule using a series of 18 overlapping synthetic peptides (P1-P18). Sera from all of the ten vaccinated buffaloes reacted strongly with Sj-22 in western blots and in ELISA, while sera from a further ten adjuvant (Quil A) control buffaloes did not. Four peptides (P3, P8, P9 and P10) were predominantly recognized by at least 90% of the buffalo sera. This pattern of recognition is similar to that obtained in a previous study we undertook in mice immunized with the same antigen whereby peptides 3, 8, 9 and 10 were recognized by over 80% of CBA strain mice. The peptide most frequently recognized by mice (peptide 6), and mapping to an EF-hand calcium binding domain, was recognized by six of the ten vaccinated buffaloes. The major difference between buffaloes and mice occurred with peptide 1 which was recognized very frequently by all three strains of mice tested but was only weakly recognized by three of the ten buffaloes. This study provides a valuable reference for further study on the immunity stimulated by the 22.6 kDa tegumental antigen in the murine model and a natural bovine host of Schistosomiasis japonica.     

Se18.9, an anti-phagocytic factor H binding protein of Streptococcus equi

Evasion of phagocytosis is an important virulence determinant of Streptococcus equi (S. equi subsp. equi), the cause of equine strangles and distinguishes it from the closely related but much less virulent S. zooepidemicus (S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus). We describe Se18.9, a novel H factor binding protein secreted by S. equi but not by S. zooepidemicus that reduces deposition of C3 on the bacterial surface and significantly reduces the bactericidal activity of equine neutrophils suspended in normal serum for both S. equi and S. zooepidemicus. Se18.9 is secreted abundantly by actively dividing cells and is also bound to the bacterial surface. Strong serum and mucosal antibody responses are elicited in S. equi infected horses. Although a gene identical to se18.9 was not detected in S. zooepidemicus, sequences encoding proteins of similar size with similar signal peptide sequences were found in 3 of 12 randomly selected strains. Since Se18.9 is unique to S. equi, and immunoreactive with convalescent sera and mucosal IgA, it has potential for immunodiagnosis and for study of mucosal antibody response to S. equi.     

Effects of 7S and 11S on the intestine of weaned piglets after injection and oral administration of soybean antigen protein

Soybeans are used increasingly in food products because of their health benefits. In this study, we investigated the effect of soybean antigen protein on weaned piglet intestine. Seventy piglets were randomly divided into seven groups with 10 piglets each. At 7 and 14 days of age, groups A–C were injected with saline, and D–G were intramuscularly injected with or orally administered 7S or 11S. Groups B–G were artificially sensitized by dietary 7S or 11S. At 27 days, the small intestinal tissues were collected to determine levels of histamine, sIgA protein, and IgA mRNA. Histamine in B–G was significantly decreased in the duodenum and ileum. Moreover, sIgA expression was higher in all groups than in A, with B/C>D–G and F/G>D/E; the trend in IgA expression was similar. Collectively, these results indicated that soybean antigen protein‐immunizing agents decrease sIgA and IgA levels. Additionally, the effect of injection immunization occurred prior to that of oral immunization.     

检测ＮＤＶ特异性ＩgG、IgM、ＩgA的间接ＥＬＩＳＡ方法的建立

本试验以新城疫病毒（ＮＤＶ）感染的鸡胚尿囊液经差速离心，庶糖密度梯度离心提纯的ＮＤＶ为包被抗原，以纯化的鸡ＩgG、IgM及ＩgA免疫，制备辣根过氧化物酶标记的兔抗鸡ＩgG、IgM及ＩgA，分别建立了检测ＤＮＶ特异性ＩgG、IgM、ＩgA的间接ＥＬＩＳＡ方法，抗原最适包被量为１．３４μg/孔。酶标兔抗鸡ＩgG、IgM、ＩgA的最佳稀释度分别为１：４００，１：４００，１：１００，血清样品检测ＩgG时，最适工作浓度为１：４００，检测IgM时为１：５０。该方法具有特异性强、灵敏度快，快速简便等优点，适合于对各类新城疫特异性抗体的动态监测和大批检测，同时也为城疫免疫要理研究及流行病学调查提供了可靠手段。