Cutaneous hypersensitivity and isoantibody production in cattle injected with live or inactivated Anaplasma marginale in bovine and ovine erythrocytes.

Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity and the production of isoagglutinins against normal bovine erythrocytes were measured in cattle inoculated with erythrocytic preparations containing live or inactivated Anaplasma marginale. The effect of blood group substances versus parasitic components on induction of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity and isoimmunity was examined by using test antigens derived from normal and parasitized erythrocytes, virulent A marginale in bovine erythrocytes, and attenuated A marginale in ovine erythrocytes. The use of inactivated vaccine of bovine origin induced production of isoantibodies and cutaneous hypersensitivity to both bovine and ovine blood group factors, whereas a similar vaccine preparation of ovine origin stimulated antibodies and cutaneous reactivity only against ovine blood group factors.