Host-tick immune interaction. I. Analysis of common antigenic components between Ixodes sinensis and Haemaphysalis bispinosa (Acari: Ixodidae)

Using SDS-PAGE and Western blot techniques, the common antigenic components between Ixodes sinensis Teng and Haemaphysalis bispinosa Neumann were analysed. The results showed that the salivary gland extracts of I. sinensis and H. bispinosa respectively showed 24 and 22 proteins and protein subunits in SDS-PAGE pattern. There were 6 main bands of I. sinensis with their molecular weights: 142, 105, 94, 66, 64 and 58 kDa. There were 5 main bands of H. bispinosa with their molecular weights: 215, 114, 105, 66 and 52 kDa. The number of proteins bands of I. sinensis and H. bispinosa were recognized by the sera of rabbits infested by I. sinensis and the sera of rabbits infested by H. bispinosa . Using Western blot, the common antigen band (105 kDa protein band) was discovered. It was concluded that the immune response in hosts infested by these two ticks stimulated the production of antibodies which showed cross immune reaction and the 105 kDa protein antigen might be the common antigen of two tick species.