Immunization against East Coast fever: the use of selected stocks of Theileria parva for immunization of cattle exposed to field challenge.

Two antigenically different stocks of Theileria parva parva (Kilifi and Marikebuni), previously characterized as belonging to groups A and C respectively on monoclonal antibody (MAb) profiles, were selected for immunization of different breeds of cattle against East Coast fever (ECF) by the infection and treatment method. A total of 52 immunized cattle and 33 susceptible controls of different group sizes were exposed to field challenge by ticks for periods of 42-90 days at three field sites where ECF is endemic on the Kenyan coast. All immunized cattle survived ECF challenge, but 87% of the controls died of the disease. The cattle exposed at one site had been immunized 1 year earlier and maintained tick-free in the intervening period. The level of immunity in these cattle was similar to that of cattle which had been immunized 1 or 2 months prior to exposure. Thus, immunity had not waned over the 1-year period. A study at another site showed that acaricidal treatment of immunized cattle could be safely extended from twice a week to once every three weeks, whereas in susceptible cattle even twice weekly spraying did not control ECF. The isolates made from infected controls during the trials indicated the presence of three T. p. parva stocks as defined by MAb profiles. Of the two stocks used for immunization, T. p. parva Marikebuni induced broader protection. In view of the apparent limited antigenic diversity of T. p. parva strains within the Coast Province it is suggested that the Marikebuni stock might represent a key stock for vaccination in this area.