Babesia argentina: intraerythrocytic location of babesial antigen extracted from parasite suspensions

Goodger B.V. 1973. Babesia argentina: Intraerythrocytic location of babesial antigen extracted from parasite suspensions. International Journal for Parasitology3:387–391. A crude soluble antigen obtained from a mixture of Babesia argentina parasites and infected erythrocyte stromata has been partly purified and characterized by immunological procedures and its intraerythrocytic site demonstrated by fluorescent antibody techniques. This product contained at least two distinct antigens which were species specific. One had an electrophoretic mobility. similar to serum prealbumin, had little HA activity, and was found in or on the internal rim of the erythrocytic membrane. The other had an electrophoretic mobility similar to serum β₁ globulins, was highly active in HA tests, and was found in granules on the internal stromata of the infected erythrocytes. The evidence suggests that both antigens are produced either from the parasite and are associated closely with erythrocytic components or are produced by digestion of erythrocytic components and represent metabolites of the parasite. In either case the antigenic compounds detected are specific to B. argentina.