Isolation of Babesia gibsoni piroplasms from infected erythrocytes of dogs

J Vet Med Sci. 1993 Jun;55(3):487-90. doi: 10.1292/jvms.55.487.

Abstract

To eliminate the influence of anti-dog erythrocyte membrane antibodies in Babesia gibsoni-infected dogs on the immunological investigations of parasites, an attempt was made to purify B. gibsoni piroplasms from infected erythrocytes by N2 cavitation and centrifugation in a Percoll discontinuous density gradient. Although electron microscopic examination revealed that the concentrated piroplasms visible as a band at the interface between 30% and 40% Percoll solutions were contaminated with a small amount of erythrocyte membrane debris, little contamination was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western immunoblots. Hence, the isolated parasites may be usable for immunological examinations of parasites.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / blood
  • Antigens, Protozoan / isolation & purification*
  • Babesia / isolation & purification*
  • Babesia / ultrastructure
  • Babesiosis / parasitology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Centrifugation, Zonal
  • Dogs
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / parasitology
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology*
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Molecular Weight
  • Povidone
  • Silicon Dioxide

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Percoll
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Povidone