Ahmed Elbehairy

Citation:

Abdel-Gwad, A., M. M. Fahmy, W. Mousa, and A. ElBehairy, "Immuno-characterization of some Eimeria spp. infecting chicken in Egypt.", 21st International Conference WAAVP, Belgium, 19-23 August, 2007.

Date Presented:

Summary

Monospecific species from both E. tenella and E.necatrix were obtained successfully using rectal inoculation with merozoites, the isolation has been authenticated by the demonstration of characteristic lesions at particular sites of infection in the chicken intestine, and consideration of the prepatent period, size of oocysts, and morphology of intracellular stages, where the prepatent period is much longer in E.necatrix as well as its characteristic lesions in the middle part of the small intestine which made by its second-generation merozoites.

In the present study E. tenella and E.necatrix oocyst, second-generation merozoite and gametocyte antigens were prepared. Electrophoretic analysis of the prepared antigens of E.tenella and E. necatrix compared with normal caecal and mid- intestinal tissues after staining with coomassie blue revealed that, E. necatrix sporulated oocyst antigen gave 2 bands of molecular weights 47.1 and 23.5 kDa., while E.tenella sporulated oocyst antigen gave 10 bands with molecular weights 37.3, 34.4, 30.5, 25.7, 22.5, 21.3, 19.5, 17.2, 16.7 and 14.4 kDa.

E. necatrix merozoite antigen revealed 15 bands with molecular weights 80.8, 55.1, 49.3, 47.1, 37.3, 34.4, 31.4, 28.7, 24.1, 23.5, 20.3, 19.5, 17.2, 16.7 and 14.4 kDa., while E.tenella merozoite antigen gave 9 bands with molecular weights 93.2, 53.6, 39.1, 29.8,  25.7, 21.3, 19.5, 17.2 and 16.7 kDa. E. necatrix gametocyte antigen gave 10 bands with molecular weights 82.5, 69.2, 55.1, 36.4, 31.4, 22.5, 19.5, 16.7, 15.6 and 14.4 kDa., while E. tenella gametocyte antigen gave 12 bands with molecular weights 80.8, 55.1, 36.4, 31.4, 29.8, 25.7, 21.3, 20.3, 17.2, 16.7, 15.6 and 14.4 kDa.

       Western immunoblotting to the revealed bands with homologous and heterologous antisera

indicated that,

there were 3 specific bands of molecular weights 42.9, 30.5 and 25.7 kDa. for Eimeria tenella sporulated oocyst antigen. Meanwhile there was only a specific band of molecular weight 49.3 kDa for E. necatrix one. Eimeria tenella second-generation merozoite antigen has 7  specific bands of molecular weights 95.5, 82.5, 80.8, 78.2, 70.3, 31.4 and 20.3 kDa and there were 3 specific bands with molecular weights 79, 38.1 and 32.3 kDa for E. necatrix one. E. necatrix gametocyte antigen has 4 specific bands of molecular weights 69.2, 65, 60.7 and 47.1 kDa. There was partial cross-reactivity in the merozoites of the two Eimeria species when react with antiserum of Eimeria tenella, they cross-reacted in 6 bands of molecular weights 48.8, 23.6, 19.5, 17.2, 16.7 and 14.4 kDa

In the present study the evaluation of sporulated oocyst antigens for diagnosis of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix infection by ELISA was determined, where the present work support the limitation of using ELISA in non specific diagnosis of coccidiosis. Antibody responses to Eimeria tenella

and Eimeria necatrix were studied. The histopathological lesions of both Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix were studied in different intervals post infection. , this changes described as presence of ghosts of large schizonts containing basophilic banana shaped merozoites infiltrating the lamina propria of the mid-intestine of  Eimeria necatrix infected chicks, as well as appearance of schizonts in the caeca of Eimeria tenella infected chicks. Destruction of crypts of intestine with extensive inflammatory exudates, haemorrhages and mononuclear cell infiltration were observed.