Detection of the Ki-67 nuclear epitope in epithelial cells of nasal cavities and frontal sinuses of sheep and goats naturally infected by Oestrus ovis (Linne 1761).

Ki-67 proliferation associated nuclear epitope has been identified in epithelial cells of nasal cavities and frontal sinuses of sheep and goats naturally infected (6+6) or not (6+6) by Oestrus ovis larvae, It appeared that infection induces a cell proliferation, The numbers of epithelial cells stained par MIB-1 antibody indicating the presence of Ki-67 epitope are globally multiplied by two in infected sheep whatever the site (p < 0.05). For goats the increases are less important : 45 % for nasal septum, 38 % for turbinates and 40.7 % for frontal sinuses, The differences between infected and non infected are not significant except for the nasal septum (p < 0.05). This weaker reaction in goat than in sheep has already been observed for mast-cells and eosinophils.