Browsing by Author "Cunningham, M.P."

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East Coast Fever of Cattle: 60 Co Irradiation of Infective Particles of Theileria Parva
(1973) Purnell, R.E.; Brown, C.G.D.; Cunningham, M.P.; Burridge, M.J.; Musoke, A.J.; Dargie, J.D.; East African Veterinary Research Organization, Muguga, P. O. Kabete, Kenya. Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Infective particles (IPs) of Theileria parva, the causative organism of East Coast Fever of cattle, were harvested from the tick vector, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, using an in vitro feeding technic. In a ranging experiment, pairs of cattle were inoculated with aliquots of suspensions of IPs irradiated at doses of 4–137.6 krad. Doses of irradiation in excess of 8 krad appeared to destroy the parasite. In the 2nd and 3rd experiments, groups of 5 cattle were inoculated with aliquots of suspensions containing low and high concentrations of IPs respectively, irradiated at doses of 4–32 krad. In the 2nd experiment, doses of irradiation in excess of 10 krad appeared to destroy the parasite. In the 3rd experiment, at least 1 animal became infected when inoculated with an aliquot of a suspension irradiated at 16 krad. In all experiments, it appeared that increasing doses of irradiation destroyed increasing numbers of IPs. There was no conclusive evidence that IPs which survived irradiation were attenuated, and it appears that vaccination of cattle against ECF is unlikely to be achieved by inoculation of irradiated IPs using the methods described.
East Coast Fever: 3. Chemoprophylactic Immunization of Cattle using Oxytetracycline and a Combination of Theilerial Strains
(1975) Radley, D.E.; Brown, C.G.D.; Cunningham, M.P.; Kimber, C.D.; Musisi, F.L.; Payne, R.C.; Purnell, R.E.; Stagg, S.M.; Young, A.S.; East African Veterinary Research Organization, Kikuyu Kenya,
In the first of two experiments performed, 29 animals were immunized by chemoprophylaxis against either a combination of three theilerial strains, Theileria parva (Muguga), T. parva (Kiambu 5) and T. lawrencei (Serengeti transformed), or against one or two elements of the combination separately, and then challenged with either T. parva (Kiambu 1) or T. lawrencei (Solio KB1), both of which were known to be heterologous to T. parva (Muguga). The animals immunized against the combination had mild or inapparent reactions to challenge, whilst the susceptible control cattle and many of those immunized against one or two strains either had severe reactions of died. In the second experiment, 17 cattle immunized by chemoprophylaxis against the combination were challenged with lethal doses of three theilerial strains, T. parva (Entebbe 1), T. parva (Entebbe 2) and T. parva (Ukunda), recently isolated from two widely separated areas of East Africa. They had mild or inapparent reactions whilst 13 of 15 susceptible control cattle died. Chemoprophylaxis using a combination of theilerial strains and a limited oxytetracycline regimen was shown to be an effective means of immunizing cattle against East African theilerioses. The use of this technique as a method of immunizing cattle before exposure in the field is proposed.
East Coast Fever: 60Co-Irradiation of Theileria Parva in Its Tick Vector, Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus
(1974) Purnell, R.E.; Brown, C.G.D.; Burridge, M.J.; Cunningham, M.P.; Emu, H.; Irvin, A.D.; Ledger, M.A.; Njuguna, L.M.; Payne, R.C.; Radley, D.E.; East African Veterinary Research Organization, Muguga P.O. Box 32, Kikuyu, Kenya
Three experiments were carried out in which Theileria parva was irradiated in its tick vector, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. In the first experiment, infected unfed adult ticks were irradiated at doubling doses from 4 to 32 krad. Some of the ticks were then fed for 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 days on rabbits, and the parasites in their salivary glands examined. Five male and 5 female ticks from each irradiation dose were put onto each of a pair of susceptible cattle, whose reactions were recorded. Increasing doses of irradiation resulted in progressive destruction of the parasites. All cattle receiving ticks irradiated at doses up to and including 16 krad died of East Coast fever (ECF), and one of the cattle receiving ticks irradiated at 32 krad died.
East Coast fever: correlation between the morphology and infectivity of Theileria parva developing in its tick vector
(1973) Purnell, R.E.; Brown, C.G.D.; Cunningham, M.P.; Burridge, M.J.; Kirimi, L.M.; Ledger, M.A.
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks, infected with Theileria parva, were fed on rabbits and removed at daily intervals for 9 days. Half of the ticks removed were dissected and their salivary glands processed and examined for parasites. The remaining ticks which had been removed were ground up and aliquots of the supernatant fluid thus obtained were injected into East Coast fever susceptible cattle. Cattle injected with supernatant fluids from ticks fed for 4-9 days became infected, and this could be correlated with the histological detection of mature parasites in the corresponding ticks. The most highly ineffective supernatant fluids were prepared from 5-day-fed ticks. In a second experiment it was shown that female ticks of a variety of weights contained ineffective particles of T.parva.
East Coast Fever: The Infectivity for Cattle of Infective Particles of Theileria Parva Harvested in Various Substrates
(1973) Cunningham, M.P.; Brown, C.G.D.; Burridge, M.J.; Joyner, L.P.; Purnel, R.E.; East African Veterinary Research Organization, Muguga, P.O. Kabete, Kenya
Female Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks infected with Theileria parva were pre-fed on rabbits for 4 days before being removed and restrained on ‘plasticine’. They were then fed for 2-h periods on capillary tubes containing various substrates, the contents of which were subsequently inoculated into East Coast fever-susceptible cattle. Using this technique, precolostral calf serum and Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium, with the addition of Bovine Albumin Powder, were selected as substrates suitable for further laboratory investigation on East Coast fever as they were acceptable to the ticks and supported the viability of the parasites.
Further Studies on the Immunization of Cattle against Theileria La Wrencei by Infection and Chemoprophylaxis
(Elsevier, 1979) Radley, D.E.; Young, A.S.; Grootenhuis, J.G.; Cunningham, M.P.; Dolan, T.T.; Morzaria, S.P.; Veterinary Research Department, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Muguga; Veterinary Laboratories, Kabete (Kenya); International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Kenya; MAFF Central Veterinary Laboratories, Great Britain.
Three experiments were carried out to ascertain the feasibility of immunization of cattle against Theileria lawrencei using infection and chemoprophylaxis. In the first two experiments, cattle were immunized with a combination of three theilerial strains (‘cocktail’) and simultaneous treatment with an experimental formulation of oxytetracycline. When groups of these immunized cattle were challenged with stabilates of T. lawrencei isolated from African buffalo captured in Kenya and Tanzania, many of the immunized cattle had severe reactions and 3 out of 20 died, as did 18 of the 20 controls. A paddock containing carrier buffalo which maintained a population of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus continuously infected with T. lawrencei, was used in a second and third experiments. Cocktail immunized and control cattle were exposed to this tick challenge, and 55% of the immunized animals and 91% of the controls died. The protection provided by cocktail immunization was compared with immunization using different isolates of T. lawrencei from the buffalo paddock, but little difference in the degree of protection was detected. However, a high degree of immunity was observed when cocktail immunized cattle which had undergone a T. lawrencei stabilate challenge were exposed in the paddock. Only mild reactions were seen and no deaths occurred. Field immunization of cattle against T. lawrencei may be difficult due to immunovariants of this parasite emanating from the buffalo populations.
Growth of Theileria parva-infected Bovine Lymphoid Cells in Irradiated
(1972) Irvin, A.D.; Brown, C.G.D.; Cunningham, M.P.; Crawford, J.G.
SEVERAL attempts to establish Theileria parva, the causative organism of East Coast fever of cattle, in laboratory animals1–4 have failed. The recent successful establishment of T. parva macroschizont-infected bovine lymphoid cells in tissue culture5 provided a concentrated source of material which could be used in further attempts to infect laboratory animals.
Growth of Theileria parva-infected Bovine Lymphoid Cells in Irradiated Mice
(1972) Irvin, A.D.; Brown, C.G.D.; Cunningham, M.P.; United Nations Development Programme/Food and Agriculture Organization Tick-borne Diseases Project: East African Veterinary Research Organization.
SEVERAL attempts to establish Theileria parva, the causative organism of East Coast fever of cattle, in laboratory animals 1-4 have failed. The recent successful establishment of T. parva macroschizont-infected bovine lymphoid cells in tissue cultureS provided a concentrated source of material which could be used in further attempts to infect laboratory animals.
Immunological Aspects of Bovine Trypanosomiasis
(1970) Wilson, A.J.; Cunningham, M.P.
BROWN and BROWN (1940) cyclically passaged 3 strains of Trypanosoma brucei through different batches of Glossina morsitans; two were isolated from horses in Ghana and one from a dog in Uganda. Cyclically transmitted popUlations were isolated in rats from each of these strains. Using the red cell adhesion test (DUKE and WALLACE, 1930), they showed that within a single strain all the cyclically transmitted populations were serologically similar. This important work was not repeated until GRAY (1965) demonstrated that cyclically transmitted derivatives of a strain of T. brucei subgroup have at least one antigen in common, termed 'the basic strain antigen'. On this finding, field isolations of T. brucei subgroup have been typed serologically (GRAY, 1966). In this paper we describe an attempt to demonstrate a 'basic strain antigen' in cyclically transmitted derivatives of a strain of T. congolense.
Immunological Aspects of Bovine Trypanosomiasis: IV. Patterns in the Production of Common Antibodies.
(1971) Wilson, A.J.; Cunningham, M.P.
Patterns of antibody production in relation to the presence or absence of trypanosomes and to drug treatment, were studied in 38 cattle. The animals were infected with one or more of the three groups of African pathogenic trypanosome. An indirect fluorescent antibody test was used. A stronger homologous antibody was noted. High levels of antibody were associated with the presence of circulating trypanosomes. Falling levels of antibody were associated with self-cure or chemotherapeutic treatment. Titre of homologous antibody was considered to be a valuable aid in ascertaining the stage of the disease, and may be useful in assessing the efficiency of chemotherapy in a herd.
The Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Technique Applied to Dried Blood, for use as a Screening Test in the Diagnosis of Human Trypanosomiasis in Africa
(1967) Bailey, N.M.; Cunningham, M.P.; Kimber, C.D.; East African Trypanosomiasis Research Organization, Totoro, Uganda; East African Trypanosomiasis Research Organization, Tororo Uganda
Fluorescent antibody tests based on the technique developed by COONS, CREECH and JONES (1941) are widely used for the detection in serum of specific antibodies to infectious micro-organisms. FIFE and MUSCHEL (1959) described an indirect fluorescent antibody technique (1FT) for the serodiagnosis of Chagas's disease. Trypanosoma cruzi cultured on a diphasic blood agar medium was used as the antigen and, as this had to be kept moist, the entire technique was carried out in test tubes. A modification of this technique has been shown by SADUN et al. (1963) to be of value in the serodiagnosis of human trypanosomiasis. Thin blood smears from rats infected with T. CTUzi, T. gambiense and T. rhodesiense were used as antigen, and this resulted in a test which could be rapidly carried out on glass slides with serum collected from suspected cases of disease. ANDERSON et al. (1961) described a technique for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis by immunofluorescence, making use of blood samples dried on filter paper, and SADUN et al. (1963) showed that dried blood samples could be also used in the diagnosis of human trypanosomiasis. Their technique involved the elution of serum from the dried blood samples contained in plastic tubes, and the subsequent extrusion of the eluate in a carpenter's vice. This technique was somewhat tedious and time-consuming and only a limited number of tests could be carried out at anyone time. A modified technique has now been developed for the diagnosis, by immunofluorescence, of human T. rhodesiense infection. The complete procedure is carried out on glass microscope slides at room temperature, and large numbers of blood samples can be examined in a short period of time.
A Note on the Susceptibility of Sheep and Goats to East Coast Fever
(1974) Purnell, R.E.; Radley, D.E.; Cunningham, M.P.; East African Veterinary Research Organisation, P.O Box 32, Kikuyu, Kenya.
In East Africa, where cattle, sheep and goats are commonly herded together, all three are regularly infested with Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks (Yeoman, 1966), the vectors of East Coast fever of cattle. Sheep and goats, while they are known to be susceptible to other species of Theileria (T. ovis and T. hirci) in various parts of the world, have never been shown to be infected with T. parva, the causative organism of East Coast fever, although there has always been speculation as to their potential ability to act as reservoirs of the parasite. Since we now have a number of low temperatures preserved stabilates of T. parva (Muguga) in this laboratory (Cunningham, Brown, et al, 1973), we decided to attempt to infect a new-born lamb and a new-born kid using relatively massive doses of T. parva infective material. A pregnant sheep and a pregnant goat, both of local native breed, were obtained. The sheep was shown to harbour occasional intra-erythrocytic piroplasms morphologically identified as T. ovis, whilst the goat apparently had no intra-erythrocytic parasites. Four hours after birth, the lamb was bled for serology and then inoculated subcutaneously in front of the right. Supported by a grant from the Pfizer Corporation, New York. shoulder with 10 ml of T. parva (Muguga) stabilate, two control cattle each receiving 1 ml of the stabilate. The kid was similarly bled and innoculated 23 hours after birth. Five cattle, which acted as controls on the infectivity of the stabilate inoculated into the kid, had each received 1 ml of the stabilate the previous week. The viability of the stabilate was also confirmed 11 weeks later when five cattle were each fatally infected by the inoculation of 1 ml. The rectal temperature of each animal was recorded daily. Giemsa-stained biopsy smears from the local drainage prescapular lymph nodes were examined daily after inoculation, and Giemsa-stained blood smears examined from the 10th day after inoculation, for the following month. Although local drainage lymph nodes of both animals, particularly that of the lamb, became hyperplastic and enlarged, no theilerial parasites were observed in the nodes or in the blood. All control cattle, except one which died of intercurrent disease, died of East Coast fever. Comparison of pre-inoculation and 28 days post inoculation serum samples, using the indirect fluorescent antibody test with a bovine conjugate (Burridge and Kimber, 1973), revealed no antibody response to T. parva antigens in the lamb or the kid. We conclude therefore, that neither animal was susceptible to infection with T. parva (Muguga) even when challenged with a dose of infective material much greater than they would encounter in an ECF enzootic area.
Observations on the Cross-Immunity between Theileria Lawrencei (Serengeti) and Theileria Parva (Muguga) in Cattle
(1973) Young, A.S.; Brown, C.G.D.; Burridge, M.J.; Cunningham, M.P.; Kirimi, I.M.; Irvin, A.D.; East African Veterinary Research Organization, Muguga, P.O. Kabete,Kenya
Observations on the cross-immunity between Theileria lawrencei (Serengeti) and Theileria parva (Muguga) in cattle. Internationaljournal for Parasitology3: 723–728. Cattle immunized against Theileria parva (Muguga) showed little resistance to Theileria lawrencei (Serengeti) stabilate challenge, while cattle immune to T. lawrencei (Serengeti) were fully resistant to challenge with T. parva (Muguga) stabilate. Cattle inoculated with cultured lymphoid cells infected with T. lawrencei (Serengeti) macroschizonts survived a subsequent T. lawrencei (Serengeti) stabilate challenge.
A Pathogenic Theilerial Syndrome Of Cattle In The Narok District Of kenya
(1972) Irvin, A.D.; Brown, C.G.D.; Burridge, M.J.; Cunningham, M.P.; Musoke, A.J.; Pierce, M.A.; Radley, D.E.
Two theilerial parasites, pathogenic for cattle, were isolated during a field trial conducted at Aitong in the Narok District of Kenya. In a series of laboratory experiments the first of these parasites was successfully transmitted to all of 18 cattle by syringe inoculation of piroplasm infected blood. Two lines were established which were passaged 5 and 3 times respectively_ The animals inoculated all underwent a haemolytic syndrome with anaemia and jaundice and 5 of them died. Macro- and microschizonts were seen in only one of these 18 animals, but piroplasms were present in large numbers. Animals which had recovered from infection and were challenged with Theileria parva all died and there was no evidence that previous infection had conferred any protection on them. This infection was not transmitted by ticks.
Preliminary Observations on a Theilerial Species Pathogenic to Cattle Isolated from Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) in Tanzania
(1973) Young, A.S.; Branagan, D.; Brown, C.G.D.; Burridge, M.J.; Cunningham, M.P.; Purnell, R.E.; East African Veterinary Research Organization, Muguga, P.O. Kabete, Kenya
A theilerial species, pathogenic to cattle, and resembling Theileria lawrencei, was isolated from two buffalo captured in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. When nymphal Rhicephalus appendiculatus ticks were fed on the buffalo, on four out of six occasions the resultant adults were shown to be capable of causing highly pathogenic T. lawrencei-type infections in cattle. Aspects of the life cycle of the parasite in both ticks and cattle were studied. Its development in the tick was apparently similar to that of T. parva, and, in cattle, only differed from T. parva by causing the host’s death when relatively few lymphocytes were infected with macroschizonts and when neither microschizonts nor piroplasms were detectable. The parasite was designated T. lawrencei (Serengeti).
Studies on Theileria Parva in Whole-Body Irradiated Mice
(1973) Irvin, A.D.; Brown, C.G.D.; Cunningham, M.P.; Crawford, J.G.; Ledger, M.A.; East African Veterinary Research Organization, Kabete, Nairobi (Kenya
Theileria parva, the causative agent of East Coast fever (E. C. F.) of cattle, has never been grown successfully in small laboratory animals, and the only animals of proven susceptibility are cattle and two species of buffalo (Syncerus caffer and Bubalus bubalis). A number of workers have made unsuccessful attempts to establish T. parva in a variety of animals including rabbits, mice, guinea-pigs, hamsters, rats, hyraxes and chick embryos [1-4]. The failures encountered by these earlier workers can be partly attributed to lack of suitable infective material, and partly to host resistance. We have attempted to overcome these problems, firstly by using a source of material. of known high infectivity for cattle, i.e. T. parva macro schizont-infected bovine lymphoid cells in tissue culture (5), and secondly by reducing the host response using whole-body irradiation.
Trypanosomiasis in African Wild Animals
(1968) Cunningham, M.P.; Food and Agriculture Organization
Three-quarters of Africa south of the Sahara is infested with the Tsetse fly. General speaking, because of the trypanosomes transmitted by these flies, where there are Tsetse flies there are In'o cattle. Tanzania is a good example. If the maps showing distribution of cattle and Tsetse flies in the Atlas of Tanzania ar'e consulted, it will be seen that one is the reverse of the other. In Tsetse-infested areas, the flies feed on wild animals which are often present in large numbers, and in these animals the pa,thogenic African trypanosomes are maintained.

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