Hegarty B C, Levy M G, Gager R F, Breitschwerdt E B
Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
J Vet Diagn Invest. 1997 Jan;9(1):32-8. doi: 10.1177/104063879700900106.
Historically, considerable variation has been reported in the type and severity of clinical and hematologic abnormalities associated with canine ehrlichiosis. Because of difficulties associated with the isolation of intracellular monocytic Ehrlichia species in tissue culture systems, few E. canis isolates are available for comparative microbiologic studies. To address the issue of potential E. canis antigenic diversity in different regions of the world, dog sera reactive by indirect fluorescent antibody testing to E. canis (Florida) antigen were obtained from France, Israel, Italy, the United States, the Virgin Islands, and Zimbabwe. Ehrlichia canis proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and at least 5 sera from each region were stained by western immunoblotting. Antibody immunodominance was scored based upon staining intensity. There was relative homogeneity in the immunogenic protein reactions to E. canis antigens. Of the 58 E. canis reactive sera, 54 samples resulted in immunoblot patterns indicative of chronic ehrlichiosis. Four reactive sera (reciprocal titers of 160-2,560) did not recognize any genus-specific antigens resulting in protein bands between 22 and 29 kD, indicating serologic cross-reactivity with other microorganisms. Relatively homogenous immunoblot patterns, consistent with the reported immunoblot response of dogs with experimental chronic ehrlichiosis, were observed with sera from Arizona, France, Israel, North Carolina, Texas, and the Virgin Islands. In contrast, unique major proteins were observed in dog sera from Italy and Zimbabwe. Our results indicate that although relatively homogeneous, antigenic diversity may exist among E. canis organisms in different regions of the world.
从历史上看，与犬埃立克体病相关的临床和血液学异常的类型及严重程度已有大量不同的报道。由于在组织培养系统中分离细胞内单核细胞埃立克体属物种存在困难，可供比较微生物学研究的犬埃立克体分离株很少。为解决世界不同地区犬埃立克体潜在抗原多样性的问题，通过间接荧光抗体试验对犬埃立克体（佛罗里达株）抗原有反应的犬血清分别取自法国、以色列、意大利、美国、维尔京群岛和津巴布韦。犬埃立克体蛋白通过十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳进行分离，每个地区至少5份血清通过蛋白质免疫印迹法进行染色。根据染色强度对抗体免疫显性进行评分。对犬埃立克体抗原的免疫原性蛋白反应具有相对同质性。在58份对犬埃立克体有反应的血清中，54份样本的免疫印迹模式表明为慢性埃立克体病。4份有反应的血清（效价为160 - 2560）未识别出任何22至29 kD之间产生蛋白条带的属特异性抗原，表明与其他微生物存在血清学交叉反应。来自亚利桑那州、法国、以色列、北卡罗来纳州、得克萨斯州和维尔京群岛的血清观察到相对同质的免疫印迹模式，与报道的实验性慢性埃立克体病犬的免疫印迹反应一致。相比之下，在来自意大利和津巴布韦的犬血清中观察到独特的主要蛋白。我们的结果表明，尽管犬埃立克体相对同质，但世界不同地区的犬埃立克体生物体之间可能存在抗原多样性。
