Cross reactivity of serum antibodies from chickens immunized with three Eimerian species

Cross reactivity of serum antibodies from chicken immunized with E. tenella, E. necatrix and E. acervulina was observed. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using soluble antigen prepared from oocysts of each species showed the cross reactivity among chicken serum immunized with the three species of protozoa, especially between E. tenella and E. necatrix. In immunoblot analysis with E. tenella oocyst antigen, 7 major bands were detected by homologous E. tenella antiserum and 10 and 6 bands were reacted by E. necatrix and E. acervulina antiserum respectively. In these antigens, the band of 33 kDa was regarded as cross reactive agent between E. tenella and E. necatrix because of high reactivity to both of the antiserum. In addition, the 130 kDa antigen that reacted with every antiserum was regarded as common antigen among these three species.