Isozyme Patterns of Theileria parva-Infected Bovine Lymphoblastoid Cells and Purified Theileria Macroschizonts

Abstract

Research on Theileria, the causative agent of the disease theileriosis, has been hampered by the complex life cycle and particularly by the intracellular mode of existence of the parasite. For instance, the need to study the isozyme patterns of Theileria has been recognized for a long time and yet only a few preliminary studies have been reported (Musisi, 1978; Melrose & Brown, 1979). In order to overcome the limitations of the intracellular mode of existence of Theileria, we developed a method for purifying macroschizonts from infected lymphoblastoid cells (Nyormoi et al, 1981). Using purified macroschizonts, we have studied isozyme patterns of macroschizonts and lymphoblastoid cells.