Common epitopes on Eimeria tenella sporozoites and cecal epithelium of chickens.

Eimeria tenella sporozoites invade the intestinal epithelium at a highly specific site. Certain molecules that were recognized by monoclonal antibody E.TEN 11M-2, which was prepared against E. tenella sporozoites, were detected on both cecal epithelium and sporozoites. We expect that these molecules are involved in attracting sporozoites towards the site of entry.