Hymenolepis murissylvatici: humoral response in intestinal lavages of the mouse

Abstract

Hymenolepis murissylvatici elicits a humoral response in serum and in the intestine of the mouse from which it is immunologically rejected. In serum, significant differences were recorded 3 days after reinfection, while in intestinal lavages it takes place from day 9 after reinfection. In serum the response is largely the result of IgG and IgM antibodies whereas in the intestine, IgA is the most abundant antibody. Although specific IgE could not be demonstrated in serum, it was present in intestinal lavages, although rather late (i.e. day 14 after reinfection). Treatment of young worms in vitro both with immune serum or intestinal lavages had no apparent effect on their viability. Immune serum produced a complement independent precipitation on the surface of the worms in vitro. This reaction did not affect viability or infectivity of the parasite, as demonstrated by the successful implantation of treated worms in recipient mice. The above-mentioned results, together with the knowledge that the Hymenolepis model has no tissue stages and causes no tissue damage, make it probable that further study of this model will reveal some specific intestinal immunological reactions.

The antibody response in serum, intestinal wall and intestinal lumen of NMRI mice infected with Echinostoma caproni

“…Only IgA antibodies were measured at significant levels in the intestinal lumen of mice 28 days after infection with E. caproni, whereas no IgM or IgG antibodies could be detected. The predominance of the IgA response in the intestinal lumen is consistent with other studies on immune responses to intestinal helminth infections (POULAIN et al, 1976;CYPESS et al, 1977;BEFUS, 1977;VAN DER VORST et al, 1989), and with the secretory nature of this antibody class (BEFUS & BIENENSTOCK, 1982;KAWANISHI, 1989). When secreted into the gut lumen, IgA is complexed to a secretory component, which protects it from proteolytic degradation.…”