Comparative study of the antigenic composition of oocyst isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum from different hosts.

An investigation was made of the antigenic composition of oocyst isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum by immunoblotting using rabbit polyclonal or murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) developed against this parasite. Using the polyclonal antibodies in blots, a common antigenic profile was obtained from a number of human oocyst isolates from AIDS patients and immunocompetent children in the UK and Portugal. Antigenic differences were observed, however, between a human isolate from Turkey and these other human isolates. The antigenic profiles of oocyst isolates from deer and cattle were similar, but the profiles of the animal and human isolates differed to some extent. Two MoAbs which, in immunofluorescence microscopy, reacted with the surface of the C. parvum sporozoite were also used in blots. A major antigen(s) from 9 of 11 human oocyst isolates recognized by these MoAbs had a molecular weight of 47 kD, but the sizes of the corresponding antigens of the remaining 2 human isolates, one from Turkey (same as above) and one from the UK, were 45.5 and 51 kD, respectively. The equivalent antigen(s) from 4 bovine and 4 ovine isolates was 48 kD. One of the MoAbs failed to react in blots with 2 of the isolates, 1 human and 1 bovine.