Elevated anti-parasitic activity in peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils of cattle infected with Babesia bovis

The innate immune response to bovine Babesia bovis infection in vivo has not previously been established. We used assays measuring phagocytosis and oxidative burst to investigate the immune response because they are indicative of the innate antimicrobial capacity of monocytes and neutrophils. Monocyte and neutrophil phagocytosis is thought to be non-specific in nature and so the phagocytosis of either opsonised Zymosan or Escherichia coli was used to indicate the non-specific phagocytic capacity of monocytes and neutrophils ex vivo. The kinetics of both phagocytic and oxidative burst activity in monocytes and neutrophils were followed twice weekly from pre-inoculation (day 0) through to 31 days after inoculation. Peripheral blood monocytes were found to display a pronounced oxidative burst, but a suppressed capacity to phagocytose during a primary infection. On the other hand, neutrophils exhibited an increased phagocytic capacity and reduced oxidative activity during a primary infection. These findings identified considerable antimicrobial activity evident in peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils from cattle exposed to B. bovis as a primary exposure. This elevated antimicrobial activity was coincident with the time that parasite numbers peaked in the circulation and occurred prior to parasite clearance. These results suggest that peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils are active mediators in the innate immune response to a primary B. bovis