An Antibody Persistent and Protective Two rSsCLP-Based Subunit Cocktail Vaccine against Sarcoptes scabiei in a Rabbit Model

Abstract

Scabies is a highly contagious disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei which burrows into stratum corneum of host’s skin. In this study, after optimizing vaccination schedule, a vaccination trial is comprised of three test groups of rabbits (n = 10/group) by immunization with (1) rSsCLP5; (2) rSsCLP12; or (3) a mixture of rSsCLP5 and rSsCLP12, three biological replicates groups (n = 10/group) and three control groups (n = 10/group). Levels of specific IgG, total IgE and cytokines in sera were detected and histopathologically analyzed as indicators of vaccine effects. The results showed that 85% (17/20) of rabbits exhibited no detectable skin lesions of S. scabiei infestation in mixed protein groups compared to single protein groups with 75% (15/20) and 70% (14/20), respectively. Moreover, the deworming rates of mixed groups are increased by 10%–20% compared with that of single groups. Each of six groups immunized with rSsCLP displayed significant increases of specific IgG, total IgE, IL-10, and TNF-α. The degree of skin damage in test groups also significantly lower than that of control groups. Thus, purified rSsCLP5 and rSsCLP12 subunit cocktail vaccine induced robust immune protection and could significantly decrease mite populations to reduce the direct transmission between rabbits.

Mange in Rabbits: An Ectoparasitic Disease with a Zoonotic Potential

“…Although the vaccination with both antigens induced high levels of humoral immunoglobulins (Ig)G and IgE and reduced mite density, this vaccine showed no clinical improvement in the skin lesion scores. Developed recombinant proteins containing purified rSs chitinase-like proteins (CLP)5 and rSs CLP12 subunit cocktail vaccine against Sarcoptes scabiei in rabbits induced a strong immune response and significantly decreased the parasite load in the host [ 64 , 65 , 143 ].…”

Sarcoptes Infestation. What Is Already Known, and What Is New about Scabies at the Beginning of the Third Decade of the 21st Century?

“…The interactions between Sarcoptes and the infected person’s immune system, which have been better understood in recent years, should positively influence research into the production of a vaccine. An anti-mite vaccine has been tested in an animal model, in rabbits [ 92 , 93 ] and mice [ 94 ], but more trials are needed.…”

Evaluation of the immune protective effects of rEmMIC2 and rEmMIC3 from Eimeria magna in rabbits

“…Serum was collected once a week from the first immunization. All sera were tested for specific IgG antibody levels using indirect ELISA (Shen et al 2020 ). After the second immunization, the serum was used to determine cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TGF-β1) (Elabscience, Wuhan, China).…”