A SHARED EPITOPE FOUND IN THE MAJOR PARALYSIS INDUCING TICK SPECIES OF AFRICA

Cross-reactivity between all the paralysis inducing tick species of ve terinary relevance in Africa was demonstrated, by using a monoclonal a ntibody directed against the paralysis inducing toxin of Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi. Western blot results, together with amino acid compo sition studies indicated that this monoclonal antibody recognizes prot ein bands of similar molecular mass and amino acid composition in R. e vertsi evertsi and Ixodes rubicundus. This suggests that the Karoo par alysis toxin of L rubicundus is possibly also a trimer with a high deg ree of homology to the spring lamb paralysis toxin of R. evertsi evert si. The conclusive identity of these protein bands of L rubicundus cou ld not be shown. Bio-assay studies performed on 1-day-old chickens sug gested that the anti-spring lamb paralysis toxin monoclonal antibody a lso recognizes the paralysis toxin present in Argas (Persicargas) walk erae, by rendering some degree of protection against the effect of thi s toxin.