Glucose phosphate isomerase isoenzyme patterns in bovine lymphoblastoid cell lines infected with Theileria annulata and T parva, with an improved enzyme visualisation method using meldola blue.

Five strains of Theileria annulata from three geographically different areas and one strain of T parva were grown in bovine lymphoblastoid cell lines. Lysates of the parasitised cells were examined by thin layer starch gel electrophoresis for multiple forms of the enzyme glucose phosphate isomerase. A reported difference between the glucose phosphate isomerase isoenzyme patterns of T annulata and T parva was confirmed. Cultures of one strain of T annulata grown in cells derived from four different cattle showed similar host and parasite isoenzyme patterns. Two strains of T annulata and one strain of T parva grown in lymphoid cells derived from the same animal showed identical host cell isoenzyme patterns whereas the isoenzyme pattern associated with each parasite was different. Strains of T annulata from different geographical areas showed major differences in their isoenzyme patterns, but no differences were detected between strains from the same geographical area. Meldola blue was found to be superior to phenazine methosulphate as an intermediate electron acceptor in the visualisation of enzyme activity.