Monoclonal antibodies were raised against sporozoites of Theileria parva. One of these antibodies (MAbD1) neutralized the infectivity of sporozoites for lymphocytes in vitro and for cattle in vivo. Neutralization seemed to occur by blocking sporozoite entry into the cell. MAbD1 neutralized sporozoites of four unrelated stocks of T. parva, indicating the presence of a common antigenic determinant which may be important in initiating protective immunity.

Hyperuricemia is highly prevalent and especially common in subjects with metabolic, cardiovascular and renal diseases. In chronic kidney disease, hyperuricemia is extremely common, and uric acid (UA) excretion relies on gut uricolysis by gut microbiota. Current therapy for lowering serum UA includes drugs that may produce undesired secondary effects. Therefore, this pilot study was designed to evaluate the potential of two probiotic supplements to reduce systemic uric acid concentrations. Secondary objectives were to assess whether the hypouricemic effect related to a therapeutic benefit on the hyperuricemia-induced renal damage and hypertension. Analysis of fecal microbiota was also performed. Groups of 6 rats each were followed for 5 weeks and allocated in the following treatment groups: C = Control; HU-ND = Oxonic acid-induced hyperuricemia (HU) +regular diet; HU-P = HU+placebo; HU-F1 = HU+ probiotics formula 1 and HU-F2 = HU+ probiotics formula 2. We confirmed that oxonic acid-induced hyperuricemia produced hypertension and renal functional and structural changes, along with modest changes in the overall composition of fecal microbiota. Both probiotic-containing diets prevented HU, elevated UA urinary excretion and intrarenal UA accumulation induced by oxonic acid. The hypouricemic effect conferred by probiotic supplementation also prevented the renal changes and hypertension caused by hyperuricemia. However, probiotic treatment did not restore the fecal microbiota. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time the ability of probiotics containing uricolytic bacteria to lower serum uric acid in hyperuricemic animals with beneficial consequences on blood pressure and renal disease. As probiotics supplements are innocuous for human health, we recommend clinical studies to test if probiotic supplements could benefit hyperuricemic individuals.

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East Coast fever is a tick-borne protozoal disease affecting cattle in a large part of East and Central Africa. Since the vector occurs over an even wider range there is considerable potential for the disease to spread to countries which are currently disease free. This article, describing the clinical and diagnostic features of East Coast fever, may remind authorities in these countries of the potential hazards posed by the disease.

Antigenic differences between intra-lymphocytic theilerial parasites isolated from the blood of 18 African buffalo and grown in vitro were assessed with anti-schizont monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). There was marked antigenic diversity both between isolates from different buffalo and between isolates taken at different times from the same buffalo. Many of the isolates from both wild and captive buffalo appeared to consist of mixed parasite populations. Some isolates were found by limiting dilution cloning and mAb testing to contain at least 3 or 4 distinct populations of Theileria. Once cloned, Theileria-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines retained their mAb profiles during prolonged in vitro cultivation and, when recloned, the subclones had the same mAb profile as their parent clone. The implications of these results for further studies on buffalo-derived theilerial parasites are discussed.

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