Peripheral cellular and humoral responses to infestation with the cattle tick 'Rhipicephalus microplus' in Santa Gertrudis cattle

Author(s)
Piper, E K
Jonsson, N N
Gondro, Cedric
Vance, M E
Lew-Tabor, A
Jackson, L A
Publication Date
2017
Abstract
Resistance to cattle tick infestation in single-host ticks is primarily manifested against the larval stage and results in the immature tick failing to attach successfully and obtain a meal. This study was conducted to identify immune responses that characterize the tick-resistant phenotype in cattle. Thirty-five tick-naїve Santa Gertrudis heifers were used in this study, thirty of which were artificially infested for thirteen weeks with tick larvae while five animals remained at a tick-free quarantine property to serve as a control group. Following thirteen weeks of tick infestation, the animals in this trial exhibited highly divergent tick-resistant phenotypes. Blood samples collected throughout the trial were used to measure peripheral immune parameters: haematology, the percentage of cellular subsets comprising the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) population, tick-specific IgG₁ and IgG₂ antibody titres, IgG1 avidity for tick antigens and the ability of PBMC to recognize and proliferate in response to stimulation with tick antigens in vitro. The tick-susceptible cattle developed significantly higher tick-specific IgG₁ antibody titres compared to the tick-resistant animals. These results suggest that the heightened antibody response either does not play a role in resistance or might contribute to increased susceptibility to infestation.
Citation
Parasite Immunology, 39(1), p. 1-12
ISSN
1365-3024
0141-9838
Link
Language
en
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Title
Peripheral cellular and humoral responses to infestation with the cattle tick 'Rhipicephalus microplus' in Santa Gertrudis cattle
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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