Systemic release of a mast cell proteinase following nematode infections in sheep

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Abstract
Summary An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for sheep mast cell proteinase (SMCP) has been developed. Concentrations of SMCP in homogenates of abomasal tissue from parasite-immune sheep (341 μg SMCP/g tissues) were raised when compared to those in normal (non-infected) abomasa (0±145 μg SMCP/g tissue). SMCP was not detected in sera from normal animals challenged with Haemonchus contortus but was present 1±4 ng SMCP/ml) was detected in lymph from 2/3 and 4/5 immune animals between 1 and 4 days post-challenge with 50000 larvae, but not from normal animals. SMCP was not detected in lymph from immune animals following challenge with 1000 Ostertagia larvae. The relatively low concentrations of SMCP in blood and lymph reflect the presence of proteinase inhibitor(s) which interfered with the ELISA.