Immunity toOnchocerca lienalismicrofilariae in mice

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The model ofOnchocerca lienalismicrofilariae (mff) injected into CBA and T.O. strains of mice has been used to examine immunity to skin-dwelling microfilariae following exposure to a range of species oF nelmmms Mice which had received a primary infection withO. cervicalismff were significantly resistant to challenge withO. lienalismfT(58% reduction relative to challenge controls). Immunization with the uterine contents (eggs and mff) ofO. lienalis, O. gutturosaorO. volvulusconferred equivalent levels of protection agains challenge withO. lienalismff (66 to 75%). Similar results were obtained with immunizations in mice that employed either fresh or freeze-killed eggs ofO. gutturosa. Significant reductions in the recoveries ofO. lienalismff were also demonstrated following the intraperitoneal implantation of adult male worms ofO. gutturosa(30 to 52%), the adults of either sex ofDipetalonema viteae(60%), or after infection witnTrichinella spiralis(27 to 81%). Infections with the trematode,Schistosoma mansoni, had a negligible effect on mff recoveries. It is concluded that partial resistance in mice toOnchocercamff may be stimulated by factors, yet to be determined, that are neither stage nor species-specific.