[Antigenic similarity between the spermatozoa of mammals and some endoparasites]

Rabbit antisera to bull, ram, boar, and man spermatozoa were used in passive hemagglutination, passive skin anaphylaxis after Ovary, and immunoelectrophoresis tests to study water-salt extracts from spermatozoa and small and large liver fluke. the immunoelectrophoretic analysis revealed the presence of similar antigens in F. hepatica and D. lanceatum and in bull spermatozoa. A cross reaction was also observed (passive skin anaphylaxis in a guinea pig) between antisera to bull, ram, and man spermatozoa and water-soluble antigens of the two species of fluke. A similar reaction was noted also between sperm-agglutinating sera of infertile cows and the extracts from parasites. Discussed is the problem as to whether the cross reaction is due to common or similar antigenic determinants in the parasites and in some specific spermatozoid antigens. Stated is the clinical importance of these data and the ensuing link between liver fluke infection and the immunologically-mediated infertility of cows.