This Article Order Full text via Infotrieve Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Allison, A. C. Articles by Eugui, E. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Allison, A. C. Articles by Eugui, E. M.

American Journal of Pathology, Vol 102, 114-120, Copyright © 1981 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

REGULAR ARTICLES

Theileriosis: cell-mediated and humoral immunity

AC Allison and EM Eugui

The protozoan parasite of cattle Theileria parva transforms lymphoid cells into permanently proliferating cell lines. Antibodies reacting with parasite antigens can be detected by several methods, but there is no evidence that they are protective. Two cellular responses to infection have been found. In immune animals powerful cytotoxicity restricted to syngeneic infected cells rapidly appears; this is thought to be mediated by T-lymphocytes and to play a major role in resistance to reinfection. In primary infections cytotoxicity against allogeneic infected and xenogeneic cells is observed late. This is thought to be due to activation of a nonspecific cytotoxic system, which contributes to the lymphocytolysis and panleukopenia, a prominent feature of the disease. If mounted early enough, the nonspecific effector mechanism could also contribute to recovery from a primary infection, when it occurs.