Comparative study of the antigenic composition of oocyst isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum from different hosts

Abstract

An investigation was made of the antigenic composition of oocyst isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum by immunoblotting using rabbit polyclonal or murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) developed against this parasite. Using the polyclonal antibodies in blots, a common antigenic profile was obtained from a number of human oocyst isolates from AIDS patients and immunocompetent children in the UK and Portugal. Antigenic differences were observed, however, between a human isolate from Turkey and these other human isolates. The antigenic profiles of oocyst isolates from deer and cattle were similar, but the profiles of the animal and human isolates differed to some extent. Two MoAbs which, in immunofluorescence microscopy, reacted with the surface of the C. parvum sporozoite were also used in blots. A major antigen(s) from 9 of 11 human oocyst isolates recognized by these MoAbs had a molecular weight of 47 kD, but the sizes of the corresponding antigens of the remaining 2 human isolates, one from Turkey (same as above) and one from the UK, were 45.5 and 51 kD, respectively. The equivalent antigen(s) from 4 bovine and 4 ovine isolates was 48 kD. One of the MoAbs failed to react in blots with 2 of the isolates, 1 human and 1 bovine.

Laboratory utility of coproscopy, copro immunoassays and copro nPCR assay targeting Hsp90 gene for detection of Cryptosporidium in children, Cairo, Egypt

“…It was reported that several mAbs against oocysts antigens of C.parvum cross react with other parasitic life cycle stages, other Cryptosporidium species or other coccidian parasites (Chrisp et al 1991;McDonald et al 1995;Nina et al 1992;Ortega-Mora et al 1992;Robert et al 1994).…”

Pilot studies of azithromycin, letrazuril and paromomycin in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis

“…SCID and nude mice become chronically infected and ill but do not develop diarrhoea 26,27 . In addition to these problems there is recent evidence that animal strains of C. parvum may be different from human strains 28 .…”

Cryptosporidium Taxonomy: Recent Advances and Implications for Public Health

“…Early on, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) of genomic DNA (160), isozyme analysis (14-16, 56, 161), two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (122,219), and protein or carbohydrate surface labeling of oocysts, sporozoites, or homogenates (112,115,155,157,158,217,218,220,222) were all used in an attempt to define both interspecific and intraspecific differences in Cryptosporidium. Differences in protein electrophoretic profiles between C. parvum bovine isolates and C. wrairi lent strong support to the validity of C. wrairi (221).…”