Theileria lawrencei Infection of Cattle and African Buffalo: Evaluation of a Buffalo Cell Culture Schizont Antigenfor the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test

A schizont antigen for the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test was preparedfrom an in vitro culture suspension of African buffalo lymphoid cells infected with Theilerialawrencei macroschizonts. This antigen was compared with Theileria parva and T. lawrenceicell culture schizont antigens prepared from injected bovine cells, using bovine antisera to T. parvaand T. lawrencei and buffalo antisera to T. lawrencei. Complete cross-identity of these 3antigens was found with all antisera. Five buffalo, naturally infected with T. lawrencei, had significant antibody titres to all 3schizont antigens, using an anti-bovine conjugate in the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Thepeak antibody titres of these buffalo were between I:40 and I:2560 to the 3 schizont antigens. These results suggest that the IF A test could be usefully employed in epizootiological surveys.