The role of specific immunoglobulins in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity assays during Babesia bovis infection.

A stabilate prepared from Babesia bovis-infected Boophilus microplus ticks was used to infect intact adult cattle. Whole sera and immunoglobulin fractions from representative sera were tested by complement fixation (CF), indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays. The last test utilized 51Cr-labeled chicken erythrocytes coated with Babesia bovis antigen as targets. Mononuclear cell preparations, obtained from peripheral blood of normal donors and consisting of lymphocytes with 2--6% large monocytes, were used as the source of effector cells. Antibody activity was detected by all tests between 14 and 16 days following infection. Specific IgM and IgG1 were reactive in both CF and IFA tests, although the development of high titers was attributable to IgG, alone. The ADCC activity was restricted to IgG1 fractions and was greater in those sera or fractions with greater CF activity. No activity was demonstrated in IgG2 fractions by any test used.