EXPULSION OF NIPPOSTRONGYLUS-BRASILIENSIS FROM MICE LACKING ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION POTENTIAL

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (6) , 867-874
Abstract
Expulsion of the intestinal nematode of rodents, N. brasiliensis, was assessed in mice experiencing the immunosuppressive effects of anti-.mu. antibodies. Anti-.mu. treatment resulted in complete elimination of Ig[immunoglobulin]M and severe reduction of IgG1, IgG2 and IgA serum Ig levels. Specific antibody responses to sheep erythrocytes were virtually eliminated in anti-.mu.-treated mice as determined by direct and indirect plaque-forming-cell responses, hemagglutination and hemolytic assays. Using passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and indirect hemagglutination (IHA) assays, antibodies against N. brasiliensis were not detectable in sera of anti-.mu.-treated mice; control mice generated strong PCA and IHA responses. The kinetics of worm egg production coupled with adult worm recoveries at necropsy indicate that anti-.mu. treatment of mice had little or no effect on the capacity of mice to expel N. brasiliensis even though antibody production potential was eliminated in these mice. Anti-worm antibodies may not be requisite in the mechanism of N. brasiliensis expulsion from mice.