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Analysis of Antigens in Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis

Analyse au antigener hos Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 20, pages 200–215 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

Analysis of antigens in Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Acta vet. scand. 1979, 20, 200–215. — Using crossed immunoelectrophoresis (GIE) and crossed line immunoelectrophoresis (GLIE), antigens from different strains and variants of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis were compared, and cross-reactions between 1 of these strains and Mycobacterium avium and BGG studied. In each of 4 bovine laboratory strains of M. paratuberculosis examined, altogether 44 different antigens were demonstrated. This is the largest number of antigens in M. paratuberculosis which has been described so far. No important difference in the antigenic structure of the strains was found. The 4 laboratory strains are being used routinely in the production of vaccine against Johne’s disease in Norway and Iceland. One of the aims of the present work was to investigate the antigenic relationship between these strains and the goat-pathogenic Norwegian and the Icelandic variant of M. paratuberculosis. Out of 44 different antigens demonstrated in the laboratory strains, 39 and 31 gave cross-reactions against the Norwegian and the Icelandic variant, respectively. This is in accordance with practical experience, as the results of vaccination against Johne’s disease, performed in Norway for many years, are very good.

Twenty-seven and 24 cross-reacting antigens between M. paratuberculosis and strains of M. avium and BGG, respectively, were observed. This finding agrees with clinical observations.

Another aim of the investigation was to identify species-specific antigens as regards M. paratuberculosis. One antigen showed a marked cross-reaction between the strains of M. paratuberculosis examined, but did not react with antisera against M. avium and BGG. Some other antigens showed partial specificity.

The results obtained stress the complicated antigenic situation in mycobacteria which is of decisive significance as regards the diagnosis and classification of mycobacterial infections.

Sammendrag

Ved hjelp av krysset immun-elektroforese (CIE) og krysset lineaer immun-elektroforese (GLIE) er det utført sammenlignende undersøkelser av antigener fra forskjellige stammer og varianter av Mycobacterium paratuberculosis samt kryss-reaksjoner mellom disse og stammer av Mycobacterium avium og BCG. I hver av fire bovine laboratoriestammer av Mycobacterium paratuberculosis ble 44 ulike antigener påvist. Dette er det største antall antigener som hittil er beskrevet i stammer fra dette species. De fire laboratoriestammene brukes rutinemessig i produksjonen av vaksine mot paratuberkulose i Norge og Island. Et viktig siktepunkt i det foreliggende arbeid var derfor å undersøke det antigene slektskap mellom disse stammer og dan geitepatogene norske og dem islandske variant av M. paratuberculosis. Av de 44 påviste antigener i laboratoriestammene ga henholdsvis 30 og 31 kryssreaksjoner med den norske og islandske variant. Dette resultat er interessant sett på bakgrunn av de gode resultater som er høstet i vaksinasjonsarbeidet mot paratuberkulose hos geiter i Norge.

Det ble påvist 27 og 24 kryss-reagerende antigener mellom M. paratuberculosis og stammer av henholdsvis M. avium og BCG. Dette funn stemmer med kliniske observasjoner.

Et annet mål for de utførte undersøkelser var å påvise eventuelle spesifikke antigener for M. paratuberculosis. Resultatene viser at ett antigen ga markert kryss-reaksjon mellom de undersøkte stammer av M. paratuberculosis men ingen reaksjon med anti-sera mot M. avium og BGG.

De oppnadde resultater understreker de kompliserte antigene forhold i mykobakterier. En klargjøring av disse forhold vil vaere av avgjørende betydning for såvel sikker diagnostikk som klassifisering av mykobakterielle infeksjoner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Veterinary Institute, Dep., Oslo 1, P. O. Box 8156, Oslo, Norway

    Eggert Gunnarsson & Finn H. Fodstad

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  1. Eggert Gunnarsson
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  2. Finn H. Fodstad
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This investigation was supported by grants from the Norwegian Agricultural Research Council and the Institute for Experimental Pathology, Keldur, Iceland.

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Gunnarsson, E., Fodstad, F.H. Analysis of Antigens in Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis. Acta Vet Scand 20, 200–215 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546612

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147