Serological studies on strains of Theileria mutans isolated in East Africa using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique.

The serological response of cattle infected with Theileria mutans (Aitong) by cyclical and mechanical transmission was studied using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique with T. mutans piroplasm and schizont antigens. Cattle infected by either method show high antibody titres against piroplasm antigens which persist for periods of over one year. Only cattle with tick-induced infections had an antibody response to schizont antigen. The serological cross-reactions of T. mutans (Ationg) with other strains of T. mutans isolated in East and South Africa sere investigated as were the serological cross-reaction of T, mutans (Aitong) and other species of Theileria. It was concluded that isolated of Theileria in East Africa which behaved like T. mutans were serologically indistinguishable using the IFA technique while other species of Theileria were easily distinguishable from T. mutans.