RESUMO
This study based on the evaluation and characterization of the immune response induced by Psoroptes cuniculi mite extract. For this purpose, eight rabbits wee used and divided into two groups. The first group composed of five rabbits was immunized subcutaneously with Psoroptes cuniculi extract emulsified with freund's adjuvant on day 0,14 and 28. The second group composed of three rabbits considered as control. All rabbits were challenged on day 35 post-immunization by placing live mites in external auditory canal. No clinical signs of Psoroptes mange were observed among immunized rabbits. Although few eggs were detected at third week post-challenge in immunized rabbits, but no developmental stages of mites were observed until the termination of the experiment. Analysis of with Psoroptes cuniculi antigen by SDS-PAGE revealed that there were 3 polypeptide bands with molecular weights 154.54 and 32 KDa. Immunoblot using hyper-immune sera from immunized rabbits recognized a polypeptide band with molecular weight 54 KDa