CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME THEILERIA-PARVA STOCKS FROM ZAMBIA USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

Theileria parva parasites have been isolated from different locations in Zambia where malignant theileriosis has been recorded. A total of 1 6 bovine lymphocytic cell lines infected with T. parva schizonts were characterized using a panel of anti-schizont monoclonal antibodies (MA bs). Comparison of the Theileria stocks isolated before (old) and afte r (new) the Mugaga cocktail of T. parva from Kenya was used to vaccina te cattle against theileriosis in Zambia revealed differences in their reactivity against MAbs. The new isolates are showing MAb profiles si milar to that exhibited by the Mugaga cocktail which was used to vacci nate cattle in these areas between 1983 and 1989. These results sugges t that the use of the Muguga cocktail to vaccinate animals against the ileriosis in Zambia may have introduced Theileria stocks of different antigenic properties.