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Patent Title: Merozoite Proteins for Use in Detection of Babesia Equi in Horses Using Immunological Techniques
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Patent Number: 5643737
Docket Number: 9395
Serial Number: 8400413
Date Patented: 07/01/1997
Agency:
Agricultural Research Service
Issued:
July 1, 1997
Abstract:
Equine babesiosis, caused by Babesia equi or Babesia caballi, is a tick-borne
hemoprotozoan disease of horses. Clinical disease is characterized by fever, anemia, and
icterus. Mortality rate is high during initial infection of horses introduced into enzootic
regions, and horses which survive initial infection are protected from clinical disease upon
subsequent challenge. Horses with antibody to either parasite are restricted from
importation into the United States. The complementation fixation test (CFT) is presently
used for detecting antibody to B. equi or B. caballi in the serum of potentially infected
horses. However, this test is not wholly accurate, and false-negative results are possible.
The invention provides a novel, cloned protein isolated from the merozoite of B. equi. The
protein contains a conserved region found in all strains of B. equi. The protein has been
proven to be a sensitive and specific indication of the presence of antibodies to B. equi in
the serum of potentially infected horses in various tests, including a test wherein the serum
of 154 potentially infected horses were evaluated using the invention's protein in a
competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CI ELISA). The protein can
also be used to raise antibodies specific to B. equi.
Inventors:
Donald P. Knowles | Lance E. Perryman |
Animal Disease Research Unit | (Same as first inventor) |
337 Bustad Hall | (509) 335-3193 |
Washington State Universotu |
Pullman, WA 99164 |
509-335-6029; 509-335-8328 (fax) |
Industry Keywords:
veterinary diagnostics, animal import, anamal transport industry
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Last Modified: 05/06/2009
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