Immunochemical methods for identification of Babesia bovis antigens expressed on the erythrocyte surface

Intraerythrocytic parasites, such as Babesia bovis, modify the erythrocyte plasma membrane structurally, antigenically, and functionally. For such parasites the infected erythrocyte surface also is thought to be a primary site for interaction with the host immune system. These properties demand characterization of the various alterations to understand the overall host-parasite interaction, immunity to disease or infection, and bases for parasite persistence. A paucity of adequate methods exists for characterization of parasite-derived components of the parasitized erythrocyte surface. To facilitate such studies we developed or modified several techniques to detect, identify, and localize parasite-induced alterations on the B. bovis-infected erythrocyte surface. These methods, which we present here, should be adaptable to a variety of intraerythrocytic parasite-host combinations.