Antibody response to a Babesia bigemina rhoptry-associated protein 1 surface-exposed and neutralization-sensitive epitope in immune cattle.

Protective immunity against Babesia bigemina is hypothesized to involve antibodies directed against merozoite surface-exposed epitopes. Levels of antibody against a rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1) B-lymphocyte epitope, defined by surface-reactive and inhibitory monoclonal antibodies, in immune cattle sera were determined. All cattle produced antibodies to the epitope; however, there was limited correlation between immune protection induced by infection or RAP-1 immunization and the level of antibody to the neutralization-sensitive B-lymphocyte epitope examined.