Putative salivary allergens of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis.

The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis, is the major initiator of flea bite hypersensitivity in dogs. Previous analyses of whole extracts of the flea and flea salivary secretions have failed to identify the allergens responsible. We dissected >2000 salivary glands from adult female fleas, extracted them into buffered saline containing protease inhibitors and fractionated the extract using gel permeation HPLC.

Arthropod vaccines.

Antigens located in the midgut of the tick are hidden from the host's immune system. Egg production of ticks can be reduced when ticks are fed on animals vaccinated with midgut antigens of the tick, and a subunit vaccine formulated with the recombinant antigen Bm86 is now available that can reduce the number of ticks infesting cattle grazing on pasture. Midgut antigens used in vaccines against insects that transmit pathogenic organisms to humans have not been as effective in reducing insect fecundity and an alternative approach may be necessary.

Biodegradable implants for the delivery of veterinary vaccines: design, manufacture and antibody responses in sheep.

Biodegradable implants made from cholesterol and lecithin (C:L) were used to deliver a recombinant antigen (recombinant Dichelobacter nodosus pili) and adjuvant (Quil A) to sheep. Implants (5.5- x 1.

Mapping the T cell epitopes of the Babesia bovis antigen 12D3: implications for vaccine design.

The Babesia bovis antigen 12D3 was analysed to identify potential T-cell epitopes. Two predictive algorithms identified 13 possible sites but there was minimal agreement between the different predictive methods. Experimental determination of the T-cell epitopes recognized by nine cattle was achieved using a panel of overlapping peptides which identified seven different epitopes, five of which were clustered together around residues 210-320 of the molecule.

Salivary antigens of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis.

The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis, is the major cause of flea bite hypersensitivity (FBH) in dogs and cats, yet little progress has been reported on identifying the antigens responsible. We obtained flea salivary antigens by washing secretions from containers probed by the mouthparts of fleas, and by extracting whole flea salivary glands. Mice were exposed to feeding fleas to generate antibodies to salivary antigens injected in vivo.