Abstract:
Precipitinogens common to a number of Trypanosoma spp. were identified in
double diffusion precipitin and immunoelectrophoretic studies. The T. rhodesiense
strain used to produce the antiserum, which served as main indicator, was found
to share antigens with a relapse strain derived from it, as well as with T. equinum,
T. equiperdum, akinetoplastic and normal strains of T. evansi, and T. lewisi.
A specific antigen, which had remained qualitatively unchanged over four
years of continual passage, was detected in the homologous T. rhodesiense strain
by precipitin and agglutination tests.
It was impossible to distinguish between electrophoretic patterns of T. rhodesiense
and T. equinum in starch gel, but T. lewisi was different.