Serological response to Cryptosporidium parvum in adult cattle from the Andean region of Colombia

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 87; no. 6; pp. 500 - 504
• Main Authors: VERGARA-CASTIBLANCO, C. A, QUILEZ-CINCA, J, FREIRE-SANTOS, F, CASTRO-HERMIDA, J. A, ARES-MAZAS, M. E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.06.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal productions; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Antigens; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western - veterinary; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - diagnosis; Cattle Diseases - immunology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; Colombia; Cryptosporidiosis - diagnosis; Cryptosporidiosis - immunology; Cryptosporidiosis - veterinary; Cryptosporidium parvum; Cryptosporidium parvum - growth & development; Cryptosporidium parvum - immunology; Cryptosporidium parvum - isolation & purification; Eimeria - immunology; Eimeria - isolation & purification; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; Farms; Feces - parasitology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Oocysts; Protozoa; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates; Western blotting; South America; Colombia; America; Host parasite relation; Protozoal disease; Seropositivity; Prevalence; IgG; Ox; Oocyst; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidium parvum; Feces; Ungulata; Quantitative analysis; Protozoa; Apicomplexa; Farming animal; Parasite; Host; Parasitosis; Infection; Antigen; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Immunogenicity; Adult animal; Artiodactyla
• DOI: 10.1007/s004360100375
• ISSN: 0932-0113

Single faecal and serum samples were individually collected from 135 asymptomatic adult cows on seven farms in Cundinamarca (Colombian Andean region). Tests for the presence of oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum (carbol fuchsin stain) and Eimeria spp (flotation in saturated saline solution) revealed that none of the animals had coccidia in their faeces. The IgG antibody levels to C. parvum were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and the reactivity to C. parvum antigens by a Western blotting procedure. Cryptosporidial antibodies were detected in cattle from all farms, with 53.3% (72 animals) being seropositive. Sera recognized 5-11 protein fractions with molecular masses ranging from 12 14 kDa to 97-100 kDa. Sera considered as positive by ELISA reacted intensely and more frequently with protein fractions of approximately 20-22, 42-48, 51-57 and 60-69 kDa, whereas only the 42-48 kDa antigen was strongly recognized by sera without IgG antibodies. The presence of IgG antibody against C. parvum in most animals, as well as the reactivity to major proteins of C. parvum, could be indicative of continuous exposure to this parasite.