Cross-reactive, stage-specific antigens in the Oestridae family

The larval stages of different economically important Oestridae species were studied for their antigenicity and cross reactivity, using ELISA and immunoblotting. The immune sera of cattle from Algeria, Belgium, France and Switzerland were compared for their capacity to recognize the stage-specific antigens of their specific parasites Hypoderma bovis and H lineatum, originating from different populations. This comparison was extended to other Hypoderminae species responsible for economic losses in European animal production: H diana in roe deer and H tarandi in reindeer. The specific host for each of these parasites recognized common epitopes of hypodermin C, a collagenolytic enzyme previously well characterized in the first instar of H bovis and H lineatum. No cross reactivity was found with other Oestridae, such as Oestrus ovis or Gasterophilus intestinalis. The specificity of hypodermin C was evaluated using sera from animals harbouring other arthropods such as ticks, helminths, including Fasciola hepatica and Haemonchus contortus, or protozoa such as Anaplasma sp, and no reaction was observed. The use of hypodermin C is therefore suggested as an antigen in the immuno-survey of economically-important Hypoderminae.