Abstract
C57L/J male mice infected withEchinococcus multilocularis cysts were challenged intraperitoneally at 4, 8, and 12 weeks postinfection (p.i.) with 3×109 sheep erythrocytes. The direct plaque forming cells, 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) sensitive (4-day sera) and 2-ME-resistant (8-day sera) haemagglutinin responses were significantly elevated at eight and 12 weeks p.i. as compared to controls or the fourweeks postinfected mice. Possible mechanisms of immunopotentiation in the chronically infected mice is discussed in relation to the larval cyst mass, splenomegaly, and B cell hyperplasia in the lymphoid tissues during the course of infection.