HUMORAL IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN RABBITS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA-EVANSI

Weekly collected sera from rabbits infected with Trypanosoma evansi we re analysed for antibody by enzyme-linked immune assay (ELISA) to dete rmine the dynamics of humoral immune response. The first antitrypanoso mal antibody was detected seven days post-infection and the titre grad ually rose up to seventh week post-infection. Thereafter it showed a d eclining tendency. The gradual increase in the serum antibody titre ma y be associated both way either with the production of variant antigen type (VAT) specific antibody or due to effect of invariant in the pre sent study. The unregulated proliferation of B-cells and eventual clon al exhaustion which was considered to be the effect of trypanosomal mi togen and increased catabolism of immunoglobulin might be involved in reduced humoral response.