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The p29 and p35 immunodominant antigens of Neospora caninum tachyzoites are homologous to the family of surface antigens of Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT: Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite that is closely related to Toxoplasma gondii and has been found to be associated with neurological disorders in dogs and congenital infections and abortions in cattle. We have identified two surface proteins of 29 and 35 kDa (designated Ncp29 and Ncp35, respectively) from N. caninum tachyzoites that are the predominant antigens recognized by antisera from Neospora-infected animals. Monoclonal antibodies against Ncp29 and Ncp35 were used to analyze several independent and diverse N. caninum isolates; both antigens were recognized in all isolates, suggesting that they are well conserved. Localization studies and surface labeling with biotin demonstrated that Ncp29 and Ncp35 are membrane associated and displayed on the surface of the parasite. After treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, parasite lysates were analyzed with antibodies against the cross-reacting determinant of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors. Approximately six glycolipid-anchored surface proteins were identified, with the two most prominent corresponding to Ncp29 and Ncp35. Sequence comparisons of Ncp29 and Ncp35 with GenBank indicated that they are most similar to the T. gondii surface antigen 1 (SAG1) and surface antigen 1-related sequence 2 (SRS2), respectively. Consequently, Ncp29 has been designated NcSAG1 and Ncp35 has been designated NcSRS2. Both NcSAG1 and NcSRS2 contain a tandemly duplicated motif and 12 absolutely conserved cysteines which are also found in all of the SAG and SRS proteins of T. gondii. Maintenance of these motifs and the 12 cysteine residues suggests that these surface antigens share a similar secondary and tertiary structure that is presumably important for a conserved function that these antigens serve during infection.

SUBMITTER: Howe DK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC108665 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The p29 and p35 immunodominant antigens of Neospora caninum tachyzoites are homologous to the family of surface antigens of Toxoplasma gondii.

Howe D K DK Crawford A C AC Lindsay D D Sibley L D LD

Infection and immunity 19981101 11

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite that is closely related to Toxoplasma gondii and has been found to be associated with neurological disorders in dogs and congenital infections and abortions in cattle. We have identified two surface proteins of 29 and 35 kDa (designated Ncp29 and Ncp35, respectively) from N. caninum tachyzoites that are the predominant antigens recognized by antisera from Neospora-infected animals. Monoclonal antibodies against Ncp29 and Ncp35 were used to analyze sev ...[more]

PMID: 9784539

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Knowledge about parasitic infections is crucial information for animal health, particularly of free-ranging species that might come into contact with livestock and humans. METHODS:We investigated the seroprevalence of three tissue-cyst-forming apicomplexan parasites (Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti) in 506 individuals of 12 wildlife species in Namibia using in-house enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (indirect ELISAs applying purified antigens) for screening and immunoblots as confirmatory tests. We included six species of the suborder Feliformia, four species of the suborder Caniformia and two species of the suborder Ruminantia. For the two species for which we had most samples and life-history information, i.e. cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus, n = 250) and leopards (Panthera pardus, n = 58), we investigated T. gondii seroprevalence in relation to age class, sex, sociality (solitary, mother-offspring group, independent sibling group, coalition group) and site (natural habitat vs farmland). RESULTS:All but one carnivore species (bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis, n = 4) were seropositive to T. gondii, with a seroprevalence ranging from 52.4% (131/250) in cheetahs to 93.2% (55/59) in African lions (Panthera leo). We also detected antibodies to T. gondii in 10.0% (2/20) of blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). Adult cheetahs and leopards were more likely to be seropositive to T. gondii than subadult conspecifics, whereas seroprevalence did not vary with sex, sociality and site. Furthermore, we measured antibodies to N. caninum in 15.4% (2/13) of brown hyenas (Hyaena brunnea) and 2.6% (1/39) of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas). Antibodies to B. besnoiti were detected in 3.4% (2/59) of African lions and 20.0% (4/20) of blue wildebeest. CONCLUSIONS:Our results demonstrate that Namibian wildlife species were exposed to apicomplexan parasites at different prevalences, depending on parasite and host species. In addition to serological work, molecular work is also needed to better understand the sylvatic cycle and the clear role of wildlife in the epidemiology of these parasites in southern Africa.

Dataset Information

The p29 and p35 immunodominant antigens of Neospora caninum tachyzoites are homologous to the family of surface antigens of Toxoplasma gondii.

Publications

The p29 and p35 immunodominant antigens of Neospora caninum tachyzoites are homologous to the family of surface antigens of Toxoplasma gondii.

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