INGESTION OF HOST ANTIBODIES BY BOVICOLA-OVIS ON SHEEP

Ingestion of host antibodies by Bovicola ovis on sheep. International Journal for Parasitology 24: 143-145. Sheep body lice, Bovicola ovis, collected from moderately heavy infestations on Merino wethers, were a ssayed by ELISA for their content of host-derived specific immunoglobu lin (Ig). Relative concentrations of anti-horse myoglobin antibodies i n the lice and in sera from their hosts were used to estimate the tota l quantities of functional Ig (that which remained capable of binding specifically to its antigen) present, giving a mean of 0.21+/-0.20 mg/ g of lice. An attempt to demonstrate the presence of antibodies agains t B. ovis antigens in naturally-infested host sheep using ELISA produc ed inconclusive results. The implications of the quantities of Ig inge sted by feeding B. ovis are discussed in relation to the feasibility o f immunological control of this species on sheep.