ANTIBODY PATTERNS IN RABBITS SHOWING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO AN EXPERIMENTAL TRYPANOSOMA-EVANSI INFECTION

Using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, the antibody spectrum of rabbits infected with Trypanosoma evansi to homologous T. evansi antigens was monitored. Animals that developed parasitaemia later or had lower levels of parasitaemia as the infection progressed were considered to have a degree of resistance to the infection. Sera of these resistant animals recognised the T. evansi antigens earlier and subsequently identified more antigens than their susceptible counterparts. The susceptible animals developed patent parasitaemia earlier and had higher parasite counts as the infection progressed, and their sera recognised T evansi antigens later with fewer parasite components labelled during the course of the infection. These observations demonstrate clear differences between animals in response to T. evansi infections. Selection of T. evansi-tolerant animals on an individual basis may be possible as has been suggested for other trypanosome species.