Attempts to immunise rats and mice against infection withFasciola hepatica using antigens prepared fromTaenia hydatigena

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Abstract
Summary Attempts were made to immunise rats and mice against infection withF. hepatica by oral dosing withT. hydatigena eggs, or by vaccination with variousT. hydatigena antigen preparations. These antigens included extracts fromT. hydatigena cysticerci and cyst fluid, and antigens collected during short-term (48 h) and long-term (14 days) in vitro cultivation of larvae. Immunity was assessed by the numbers ofF. hepatica recovered from the challenge infection in rats, and the mortality rates of infected mice. None of the immunisation regimes withT. hydatigena antigens induced consistent, significant immunity. This was in contrast to the high level of immunity shown by rats dosed orally withF. hepatica metacercariae four weeks prior to challenge infection.