A histocompatibility barrier to immunization against East Coast fever using Theileria parva‐infected lymphoblastoid cell lines

Abstract

Histocompatibility may be a barrier to the infection of cattle when T. parva parva-infected tissues or in vitro cultured macroschizont-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines are used for immunization. By inoculating 103 and 105 infected cells into autologous recipients infection was achieved and immunity engendered. Cell lines inoculated into BoLA matched recipients did not produce patent infections but some recipients developed antibodies to the parasite and 3/5 were immune to challenge. No evidence of infection or immunity was found in BoLA half matched or mismatched cattle. Apparently, there is an histocompatibility barrier to infection using T. parva parva-infected lymphoblastoid cells.