Passive transfer of coccidian oocyst antigen and diphtheria toxoid hypersensitivity in calves across species barriers
Klesius, P.H.; Kramer, T.; Burger, D.; Malley, A.
Transplantation Proceedings 7(3): 449-452
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-1345 PMID: 808884 Document Number: 95975
A delayed hypersensitivity (DH) response, as revealed by positive reactions to i/d skin tests with coccidian antigen, was demonstrated in calves infected with Eimeria bovis. The DH reactions were transferred passively to calves, which were previously negative to skin tests, via lymphocytes and cell-free transfer factor (TF). Acquired immunity was found in some but not all calves receiving TF treatment. In preliminary experiments with calf TF, the absence of a species barrier was indicated, since DH skin reactivity to two antigens (coccidian and diphtheria toxoid) was passively transferred to rabbits, dogs and rhesus monkeys. TF is a dialyzable lymphokine, characterized as a small, non-antigenic non-immunoglobulin entity with a low molecular weight, which may explain its lack of species specificity.