Abstract
A continuous in vitro culture system forBabesia divergens was initiated from a human isolate. It was maintained through 305 subcultures for 3 years using a low concentration of serum and a low haematocrit, with no decrease in the initial virulence. This in vitro system enabled the routine culture of all human and bovineB. divergens isolates thus far tested, with a mean parasitaemia level of 30%–40%. Different cytological aspects observed in the same isolate by optical and electron microscopy were described in parasitized ox, gerbil and human erythrocytes. The sequence ofB. divergens antibody responses was determined in man and ox, enabling the precise identification of majorB. divergens antigens as candidates for vaccines.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- EDTA:
-
ethylenediaminetetraacetate
- PMSF:
-
phenylmethylsulfoyl fluoride
- SDS-PAGE:
-
sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
References
Aikawa M, Miller LH, Johnson J, Rabbege J (1978) Erythrocyte entry by malarial parasites: a moving junction between erythrocyte and parasite. J Cell Biol 77:72–82
Bodammer JE, Bahr GF (1973) The initiation of a “metabolic window” in the surface of host-erythrocytes byPlasmodium beghei NYU-2. Lab Invest 28:708–718
Cabantchik ZI (1989) Altered membrane transport of malaria-infected erythrocytes: a possible pharmacologic target. Blood 74:1464–1471
Canning EU, Killick-Kendrick R, Monk JB (1976) Morphology of piroplasms in abnormal hosts and the identification of piroplasms of man. J Trop Med Hyg 79:5–8
Christensson DA (1987) Clinical and serological response after experimental inoculation withBabesia divergens of newborn calves with and without maternal antibodies. Acta Vet Scand 28:381–392
Christensson DA, Moren T (1987) Seroresponse IgG after vaccination and natural infection of cattle withBabesia divergens. Acta Vet Scand 28:393–402
Entrican JH, Williams H, Cook IA, Lancaster WM, Clark JC, Joyner LP, Lewis D (1979) Babesiosis in man: report of a case from Scotland with observations on the infecting strain. J Infect 1:227–234
Erp EE, Gravely SM, Smith RD, Ristic M, Osorno BM, Carson CA (1978) Growth ofBabesia bovis in bovine erythrocyte cultures. Am J Trop Med Hyg 27:1061–1064
Garnham PCC, Bray RS (1959) The susceptibility of the higher primates to piroplasms. J Protozool 6:352–355
Gorenflot A (1988) La babésiose humaine en Europe. Lett Infect 3:345–347
Gorenflot A, Piette M (1976) Septième cas mondial de babésiosé (piroplasmose) humaine. Aspect en microscopie électronique à balayage des hématies parasitées. Ann Pharm Fr 34:89–94
Gorenflot A, Okuzumi H, Piette C, Piette M (1981) Etude en microscopie électronique à balayage de la formation parP. berghei de “fenêtres” métaboliques à la surface des hématies parasitées. Ann Pharm Fr 39:3–10
Gorenflot A, Brasseur P, Bonmarchand G, Lancelle D, Simonin D (1990) Deux cas de babésiose humaine graves traités avec succès. Presse Med 19:335
Gray IS, Langley RJ, Murphy TM (1985) Morphological comparisons of the bovine piroplasm,Babesia divergens, in cattle and jird (Meriones unguiculatus) erythrocytes. J Parasitol 71:799–802
Healy G, Ristic M (1988) Human babesiosis. In: Ristic M (ed) Babesiosis of domestic animals and man. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp 209–225
Igarashi I, Aikawa M, Kreier JP (1988) Host cell-parasite interactions in babesiosis. In: Ristic M (ed) Babesiosis of domestic animals and man. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp 53–69
Konrad J, Canning EU, Phipps LP, Donnelly J (1985) Maintenance of in vitro cultures ofBabesia divergens andBabesia major at low temperatures. Z Parasitenkd 71:313–316
Laemmli UK (1970) Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature 227:680–685
Levy MG, Ristic M (1970)Babesia bovis: continuous cultivation in a microaerophilous stationary phase culture. Science 207:1218–1220
Lewis D, Williams H (1979) Infection of the Mongolian gerbil with the cattle piroplasmBabesia divergens. Nature 278:170–171
Lewis D, Purnell RE, Shaw SR, Revington JP (1980) The isolation and characterization of human and bovine strains ofBabesia divergens from Drumnadrochit, Scotland. Parasitology 81:145–155
Liddell KG, Lucas SB, Williams H (1980)Babesia divergens infections in the Mongolian gerbil: characteristics of a human strain. Parasitology 82:205–224
Mitchell GH, Hadley TJ, McGinniss MH, Klotz FW, Miller LH (1986) Invasion of erythrocytes byPlasmodium falciparum malaria parasites: evidence for receptor heterogeneity and two receptors. Blood 63:1385–1392
Perkins ME, Holtz EZ (1988) Erythrocyte receptor recognition varies inPlasmodium falciparum isolates. Mol Biochem Parasitol 27:23–24
Ristic M, Levy MG (1981) A new area of research toward solution of bovine babesiosis. In: Ristic M, Kreier JP (eds) Babesiosis. Academic Press, New York, pp 509–544
Rudzinska MA, Trager W (1977) Formation of merozoites in intraerythrocyticBabesia microti: an ultrastructural study. Can J Zool 55:928–938
Rudzinska MA, Trager W, Lewengrud SJ, Gubert E (1976) An electron microscopy study ofBabesia microti invading erythrocytes. Cell Tiss Res 169:323–334
Trager W, Jensen JB (1976) Human malarial parasites in continuous culture. Science 193:673–675
Väyrynen R, Tuomi J (1982) Continuous in vitro cultivation ofBabesia divergens. Acta Vet Scand 23:471–472
Yunker CE, Kutter KL, Johnson LW (1987) Attenuation ofBabesia bovis by in vitro cultivation. Vet Parasitol 24:7–13
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gorenflot, A., Brasseur, P., Precigout, E. et al. Cytological and immunological responses toBabesia divergens in different hosts: Ox, gerbil, man. Parasitol Res 77, 3–12 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00934377
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00934377