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Monoclonal antibodies against Boophilus microplus and their effects on tick reproductive efficiency
R D Toro-Ortiz1, I S Vaz Junior, J C Gonzales
1Centro de Biotecnologia do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Abstract:
Four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against extracts of embryo and gut tissue obtained from fully engorged Boophilus microplus were produced. The mAb BrBml reacted with different instars and tissues, the BrBm2 recognized only antigens present in gut extract and the mAbs BrBm3 and BrBm4 recognized vitellin. The effect of inoculation of these mAbs into fully engorged Boophilus microplus females was also evaluated. The mAbs BrBm1 and BrBm2 caused a decrease in oviposition of approximately 50% and 70%, respectively, and the mAbs BrBm3 and BrBm4 did not affect reproductive efficiency. This assay may be useful as a low-cost test to provide preliminary information on the possible effects of anti-tick antibodies in damaging ticks before attempting cattle vaccination experiments.