TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR PRODUCTION BY MONOCYTES FROM CATTLE INFECTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA (DUTTONELLA) VIVAX AND TRYPANOSOMA (NANNOMONAS) CONGOLENSE - POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION WITH SEVERITY OF ANEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH THEDISEASE

Plasma of cattle infected with Trypanosoma vivax IL2337 was analysed f or the presence of bovine tumour necrosis factor (TNF) by EIA in which TNF was captured by a monoclonal antibody (MoAb BC9) and detected by a rabbit polyclonal antiserum. At week 2-3 post infection (p.i.) only a low activity was detected. Therefore, an alternative approach was us ed in which TNF production was measured ex vivo. Monocytes from T. viv ax IL2337-infected cattle manifested a strong TNF production which pea ked around week 21/2 p.i. Monocytes from pre-infection controls did no t produce significant concentrations of TNF. In contrast to the strong production of TNF by monocytes fr om cattle infected with T. vivax IL 2337, TNF production was not detected from monocytes of cattle infecte d with Trypanosoma congolense ILNat 3.1. Trypanosomiasis due to these parasites differs in the degree if anaemia as indicated by packed cell volume (PCV). T. vivax IL2337 causes a severe, acute PCV fall whereas T. congolense ILNat 3.1. causes a mole gradual fall in PCV.