ABSTRACT
The antibody response to coproantigens of Cryptosporidium parvum was examined in saliva and sera of calves experimentally infected with C. parvum. Coproantigens of C. parvum with approximate molecular masses of 17, 15 and less than 14kDa were found in the feces of infected calves on day 3 or later, and 60 and 23kDa coproantigens observed between days 4 and 9 post-infection, respectively. The antibody reactivity to the coproantigens was mainly attributable to IgA class antibodies in saliva and was detectable during the convalescent phase of infection. A 15kDa protein isolated from the feces of infected calves by immunoaffinity adsorption using a monoclonal anti C. parvum antibody was recognized by IgA antibodies present in the saliva during the convalescent phase of infection. These results suggest that this coproantigen may be released from C. parvum sporozoites and may induce IgA antibody production in the mucosal immune system of infected calves.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/biosynthesis , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Cattle Diseases/immunology , Cryptosporidiosis/veterinary , Cryptosporidium parvum/immunology , Immunoglobulin A/biosynthesis , Saliva/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology , Antibody Specificity , Blotting, Western/veterinary , Cattle , Cattle Diseases/parasitology , Cryptosporidiosis/immunology , Cryptosporidiosis/parasitology , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Feces/parasitology , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect/veterinary , Immunoglobulin A/blood , Immunoglobulin A/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/analysis , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Male , Saliva/parasitologyABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/analysis , Cattle Diseases/immunology , Cryptosporidiosis/veterinary , Cryptosporidium parvum/immunology , Saliva/immunology , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Antibody Formation , Cattle , Cattle Diseases/blood , Cattle Diseases/parasitology , Cryptosporidiosis/blood , Cryptosporidiosis/immunology , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Immunoblotting , Immunoglobulin A/analysis , Immunoglobulin A/blood , Male , Molecular Weight , Time FactorsABSTRACT
We made cone sensitivity measurements and hue discrimination measurements in 58 eyes of 34 diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy including preproliferative retinopathy. The same measurements were performed in 8 eyes of 8 subjects to compare them. In this study, we were able to make the measurements in a short time and comfortably for the patients because we only needed to measure peak sensitivities of spectral sensitivity curves in three cones. There was significant correlation between short wave length sensitive-cone pathway sensitivity and retinopathy levels determined by fluorescein angiography. The cone sensitivity measurements that we used in this study were simple and sensitive. Our results suggested that the measurements were useful for detection of visual functional disturbances, determination of retinopathy levels, and prognosis.
Subject(s)
Contrast Sensitivity , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis , Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Color Perception , Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology , Humans , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Vision Tests/methodsABSTRACT
A 9-year-old boy had serological evidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Mycoplasma organisms were cultured from throat swabs. A chest X-ray and computed tomography revealed a localized pleural tumour with pleural fluid containing mesothelial cells. It is suggested that mesothelial cell hyperplasia developed as a "reactive change" following M. pneumoniae infection.
