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Protective immunity to the blood-feeding nematode Haemonchus contortus induced by vaccination with parasite low molecular weight antigens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 1997

H. D. F. H. SCHALLIG
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 80.165, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
M. A. W. VAN LEEUWEN
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 80.165, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Abstract

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Partially purified low molecular weight antigens obtained by gel filtration of whole worm homogenates or total adult excretory–secretory (ES) products were tested in a vaccination experiment to determine their ability to induce protective immunity against Haemonchus contortus in sheep. Sheep were challenged with 20000 infective 3rd-stage larvae. One animal in the low molecular weight vaccinated group showed no protection against H. contortus, whereas the 4 other sheep in this group showed a mean reduction of 99·9% in faecal egg counts and of 97·6% in abomasal worm burden compared to the non-vaccinated controls and the adjuvant controls. The ES-vaccinated sheep showed a 32·2% reduction in parasite egg production and a 63·7% reduction in abomasal worm counts. Analysis of the humoral immune responses revealed no significant differences in antibody recognition of putative protective antigens between the protected and non-protected vaccinated animals. However, a marked lower lymphocyte proliferation response was found in non-protected sheep.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1997 Cambridge University Press