Local immune response of Canarian Majorera goats infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta

Abstract

Background Due to increased anthelmintic resistance, alternative methods to drugs are necessary to control gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). Some of the most promising alternatives are based on the immune response of the host, such as the selection of genetically resistant breeds or the use of vaccines against these parasites. Given the limited information available on the immune response against GINs in goats, this study investigated the local immune response of goat kids of an indigenous Canary Islands breed (Majorera breed) experimentally infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta, one of the most pathogenic and prevalent GIN species. Methods For this purpose, the relationship between different parasitological (number of mature and immature worms, worm length, and number of intrauterine eggs) and immunological parameters at the local level (related to both the humoral and cellular immune response) was analyzed at early (1 week post-infection [wpi]) and late (8 wpi) stages of infection. Results Primary infection of goat kids with T. circumcincta infective larvae (L3) generated a complex immune response that could be defined as Th2 type, characterized by increased infiltration in abomasal tissues of several effector cells as well as a progressive presence of specific antibodies against parasitic antigens in the gastric mucus. Cellular responses were evidenced from 1 wpi onward, showing an increase in antigen-presenting cells and various lymphocyte subsets in the gastric mucosa. Conclusions The complexity of the host response was evidenced by statistically significant changes in the number of all these subpopulations (MHCII+, CD4+, CD8+, γδ+, CD45R+, IgA+, and IgG+), as well as in the evolution of the relative cytokine gene expression. From a functional point of view, negative associations were observed between the number of most of the immune cells (CD4, IgA, IgG, and CD45R cells) and parameters that could be related to the fecundity of worms, a phenomenon that was especially evident when the number of IgG and CD45R cells or the specific IgA levels of the gastric mucus were compared with parasitological parameters such as the female worm length or fecal egg counts at 8 wpi. Graphical Abstract

Antibody response and abomasal histopathology of lambs with haemonchosis during supplementation with medicinal plants and organic selenium

“…(2006) observed a strong negative correlation between female length and the populations of eosinophils, mast cells, and globule leukocytes in the abomasum. Other studies, however, reported that IgA, presumably together with eosinophils, played a role in the control of this infection by influencing parasitological parameters, such as worm length, fecundity, and worm burden ( Hernández et al., 2016 ; Ortega et al., 2022 ; Strain & Stear, 2001 ). The specific or mucosal IgA response was similar in each experimental group towards the end of the experiment, so the difference in worm length could only be associated with the infiltration of immune cells in the abomasal tissue.…”

Analysis of Protection and Immune Response against Teladorsagia circumcincta in Goats Immunised with Thiol-Binding Proteins from Adult Worms

“…These observations have been considered as two mechanisms of natural resistance to infection by these gastric nematodes in small ruminants [25,34] or as immunoprotective mechanisms in vaccination trials using thiol-sepharose chromatography-enriched extracts of H. contortus [35] or O. ostertagi [21,36].…”

“…At the end of study, mucus samples were also obtained by superficial scraping of the abomasal mucosa to analyse the local humoral response. The profiles of specific antibodies (IgG and IgA isotypes) against TBSP of adult worms in both types of biological sample (serum or gastric mucus), were performed by two indirect ELISA, as previously described [18,25].…”

“…A relative quantification of gene expression was performed following the method ∆∆Ct comparing Ct values obtained from samples of immunised or non-immunised and non-infected control animals. The data were normalised using the β-actine gene as reference gene assuming 100% efficiency of the assay [25,27].…”

Prevalence and resistance to gastrointestinal parasites in goats: A review

“…The variation in the prevalence and intensity of infection by these GIPs may be explained by differences in sampling sites and size, years, genetic variations among goat breeds and agro-ecological zone conditions, and variability in management practices, such as feeding, watering, housing, rearing, stocking rate, and health control measures. The presence of subclinical rates of several GIP infections, alone or concurrently, in clinically healthy flocks may be significant for two reasons: First, infected goats can be potential carriers and may influence the extent of disease-precipitating infection in the vulnerable group of kids [ 38 ]. Second, subclinical infection with Eimeria spp.…”