Auto-antibodies in ovine fascioliasis

In sheep, low complement fixation (CP) and passive haemagglutinating (PH) auto-antibody titres increased after primary and challenge infections with F hepatica, possibly to aid removal of tissue debris. Although the CF auto-antibodies were neither organ nor species specific and cross precipitating activity could be detected between sheep liver, kidney, lung and cattle and human livers with heterologous hyperimmune whole sheep liver anti-serum, sheep mitochondria do appear to contain an organ and species specific pH antigen.