Class-specific circulating antibodies in infections with Eimeria tenella.

Using a three-layer immunofluorescent test, class-specific, parasite-specific circulating antibody responses to Eimeria tenella were investigated following oocyst infection, drug-truncated oocyst infection and the injection of non-living antigens. Following all three means of antigenic stimulation, IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies were detected. The response to drug-truncated infections was dose-dependent. The sequence of appearance of antibody was IgM, IgA, IgG, whilst the relative quantities were IgG greater than or equal to IgM greater than IgA.