Immunohistochemical study of S100-like protein in Eimeria brunetti and Eimeria acervulina

We have investigated the expression of a calcium-binding protein, the S100 protein, in Eimeria brunetti and Eimeria acervulina stages. For this purpose, paraffin sections of distal ileum and bursa of Fabricius or duodenum from experimentally infected chickens were treated with anti-alpha-S100 (anti-alpha subunit of S100 protein) and anti-beta-S100 (anti-beta subunit of S100 protein) monoclonal antibodies and anti-S100 whole molecule polyclonal antibody. The avidin-biotin peroxidase method was used to demonstrate immunoreactivity. In the ileum, our results reveal a positive immunoreaction for the beta subunit and S100 whole molecule within the macrogametes of E. brunetti, whereas they were devoid of immunostaining after treatment of the paraffin sections with the anti-alpha-S100 antiserum. Schizonts and oocysts of E. brunetti and all the E. acervulina stages gave a negative reaction after treatment with any of the three antiserum used in the study. This result indicated that the S100 protein molecules within these stages were not recognized by the antibodies, suggesting that these molecules are different from those identified in macrogametes of E. brunetti. By contrast, in the epithelial cells, lining the lumen of the bursa of Fabricius, macrogametes of E. brunetti were stained by the three antibodies used. These results may indicate the existence of metabolic adaptations that enable the parasite to invade tissue sites different from those where the parasite usually develops.