ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

In vitro isolation of Ehrlichia ruminantium from ovine blood into Ixodes scapularis (IDE8) cell cultures

 

 

E. Zweygarth; A.I. Josemans; H.C. Steyn

Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Four stocks of Ehrlichia ruminantium (Welgevonden, Ball3, Nonile and Blaauwkrans), the causative agent of heartwater in domestic ruminants, were isolated into Ixodes scapularis (IDE8) tick cells using the leukocyte fraction of the blood of infected sheep. Organisms of two of the E. ruminantium stocks (Welgevonden and Blaauwkrans) propagated in IDE8 cells were also successfully used to infect bovine endothelial cells. All stocks were successfully propagated in IDE8 cells using Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium nutrient mixture Ham F-12 containing 10 % foetal bovine serum (FBS). The technique should be included in any attempt to isolate uncharacterized E. ruminantium stocks.

Keywords: Ehrlichia ruminantium, heartwater, in vitro isolation, tick cell line

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Accepted for publication 14 April 2008-Editor

 

 

* Author to whom correspondence is to be directed. E-mail: ZweygarthE@arc.agric.za