Antibody production in cattle infected with <i>Hypoderma</i> spp.

Abstract

Antibody production in six groups of cattle artificially infected with both Hypoderma lineatum (de Vill.) and H. bovis (L.) and one group infected with only H. lineatum was followed using the tanned-cell hemagglutination technique with an extract of first-instar larvae of H. lineatam as antigen. The rate of antibody production in different age groups of cattle undergoing their first infection was similar. Cattle undergoing a second or subsequent infection had titers at the beginning of infection or exhibited anamnestic responses. The maximum mean titers for the groups occurred 260–295 days from infection. The yearlings had significantly higher mean maximum titers than calves, or 2- or 3-year-old cattle.