The immune response during a Strongyloides ratti infection of rats

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Abstract
SUMMARY: A range of immune parameters was measured during a primary infection of Strongyloides ratti in its natural rat host. The immune parameters measured were interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and interferon‐γ from both the spleen and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells; parasite‐specific immunoglobulin G1(IgG1), IgG2a and IgG2b in serum and in intestinal tissue; parasite‐specific IgG and total IgE in serum; parasite‐specific and total IgA in intestinal tissue and rat mast cell protease II in intestinal tissue. Parasite‐specific IgG1, IgG2a and total IgE in serum and parasite‐specific IgA and rat mast cell protease II in intestinal tissue all occurred at significantly greater concentrations in infected animals, compared with non‐infected animals. Similarly, the production of IL‐4 by MLN cells stimulated with parasitic female antigen or concanavalin A occurred at significantly greater concentrations in infected animals, compared with non‐infected animals. In all, this suggests that there is a T‐helper 2‐type immune response during a primary S. ratti infection. These data also show the temporal changes in these components of the host immune response during a primary S. ratti infection.