Lymphocyte stimulatory capacity of Theileria annulata-infected ovine lymphoblastoid cells.

AHMED JS, DIEMER U, VOSS-HOLTMANN A, SCHEIN E, SCHNITTGER L

ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

Año: 2000 p. 276 - 282

0077-8923

T. annulata, the causative agent of tropical theileriosis in cattle, is transmitted by ticks of the genus Hyalomma. Sporozoites of this parasite invade their target cells, where they differentiate to macroschizonts. T. annulata additionally invades and transforms ovine and caprine leukocytes. T. annulata infection in the ovine system is poorly studied, thus we used a mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) to analyze the capacity of these cells to activate naive uninfected ovine cells. The peak response was observed on day three or four and the response could not be induced by lysates of infected cells or their supernatants. The stimulated cells expressed IL-2 and secreted an IL-2-like growth factor.