IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO IMMUNOLABELING OF SPOROZOITES, SCHIZONTS, AND SEXUAL STAGES OF EIMERIA-ACERVULINA AND E-TENELLA BY A SPECIES-CROSS-REACTIVE AND STAGE-CROSS-REACTIVE MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY

A cross-reactive monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated 1205, was used to study redistribution, parasitophorous vacuole (PV) incorporation, a nd in situ antigen production during the intracellular parasite develo pment of Eimeria acervulina and E. tenella. Western-blot analysis of s porozoite preparations showed that the mAb recognized antigenic bands at 55 and 80 kDa. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) labeling o f sporozoites produced an internal dot pattern. Immunogold electron mi croscopy (IM) showed labeling of dense granules within sporozoites. Th e IFA pattern changed to a general-internal label in immature schizont s followed by a surface-tip pattern in mature merozoites both in vitro and in vivo. IM of the asexual stages revealed the same labeling patt ern for the in vivo development of both species, and labeling of rhopt ries was seen. In vitro, the PV membrane together with amorphous mater ial within the PV was labeled by IFA during schizont development for E . tenella. No IM labeling of either the PV membrane or material within the PV was observed. Sexual stages seen in vivo for both species had the general-internal IFA pattern.