A METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF CELL-TO-CELL TRANSMISSION OF THEILERIA-SERGENTI PIROPLASMS

We tried to develop an experimental system for quantifying piroplasm t ransmission in Theileria sergenti infection using a SCID mouse model, of which red blood cells (RBC) had been substituted with bovine (Bo). A mouse hybridoma cell producing antibody against Holstein RBC was est ablished for distinguishing Holstein RBC from Japanese Black RBC by a immune-staining method. T. sergenti piroplasms in RBC were stained by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. With the aid of these techniques the pi roplasm transmission from one to another race of Bo-RBCs could success fully be quantified in SCID mice.