Susceptibility of neonate mice born to Schistosoma mansoni-infected and noninfected mothers to subsequent S. mansoni infection

Abstract

The present study tested the hypothesis that prenatal exposure of neonate Outbred albino mice to Schistosoma mansoni antigens (Ags) or antibodies (Abs) modulates their immunity against postnatal responses to infection. Persistence of maternal S. mansoni Abs and/or Ags in mice born to S. mansoni-infected mothers (IF-IMs) and noninfected mothers (IF-NMs) for up to 8 weeks after delivery was investigated. A higher level of anti-S. mansoni IgG Ab was detected in sera of 1-week-old mice born to IF-IM compared to controls. Then, immunoglobulin (Ig)G gradually decreased to the eight week. No anti-S. mansoni IgM Ab was detected in sera of these offspring at any week after delivery. Schistosoma Ags were detected in liver and kidney tissues of mice born to infected mothers. However, Ags decreased markedly till the sixth week in the liver but increased significantly at the sixth week in the kidney. Eight-week-old mice born to infected and noninfected mothers were infected with 200 S. mansoni ceracriae. Their sera and livers were collected for testing IgG and granuloma formation 6 weeks postinfection. Worms were collected via portal perfusion and counted. Anti-S. mansoni IgG level, size and number of liver granuloma, and worm burden were significantly reduced in the offspring of infected mothers. These data suggest that in utero exposure of Outbred albino mice to S. mansoni may attenuate the pathogenesis of S. mansoni in subsequent challenge.

Coinfection with the Intestinal NematodeHeligmosomoides polygyrusMarkedly Reduces Hepatic Egg-Induced Immunopathology and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Mouse Models of Severe Schistosomiasis

“…In the case of infection with schistosomes, there is predictable severe disease in about 5 to 10% of the population, and residents of areas where the disease is endemic generally suffer from less symptomatic and milder clinical forms of the disease. The immunopathology in schistosomiasis is mediated by CD4 effector T cells, and the milder pathology settings have been widely at- tributed to the generation of host-protective immunoregulatory mechanisms linked to genetic predisposition (45,78) or induced by transplacental passage of parasite antigen or antiparasite antibody (7,16,48). In this study we tested the hypothesis that low pathology is at least in part determined by coinfection with intestinal nematodes.…”

Association of In Utero Sensitization to Schistosoma haematobium with Enhanced Cord Blood IgE and Increased Frequencies of CD5– B Cells in African Newborns

“…39,41 In several animal models, littermates born to mothers with schistosomiasis show limited infection and reduced pathologic changes when exposed for the first time. 2,5,11,17,42 Furthermore, the effector phase components 43,44 required for IgE-mediated immunity are already functional. 42 Therefore, SEA-specific IgE may also play an important role in the immune system of human newborns.…”

“…However, there is increasing evidence of in utero sensitization as a result of maternal helminth infections. [2][3][4][5][6][7] The question of how infections and/or microbial products in the mother might affect the development of the fetal immune system is of particular interest because it may explain disease patterns later in life.…”

“…Some studies have suggested that prenatal priming might be beneficial and lead to protection against infections or to reduced pathologic changes, [2][3][4][5][6]8 and other studies have suggested that prenatal exposure might be detrimental and lead to development of allergic responses 3,9 or to unresponsiveness 3,8,10,11 and therefore inadequate reactivity of the immune system to infections or immunizations. 8,12,13 It has also been suggested that prenatal sensitization rather than exposure to helminths during childhood is important in determining the initial immune response elicited by natural infection.…”

Several Immunological Parameters in Rabbit Kittens Born to S. japonicum -infected Mothers

“…This is in keeping with the study of Willingham et al (1997) who concluded that the challenge infection of pigs did not result in higher worm burden and higher tissue egg counts compared to the primary control group or the challenge control group. Attallah et al (2006) demonstrated that adult worm count was significantly reduced in the offspring of Schistosoma-infected mothers compared to mice born to non-infected ones, but no explanation was offered. One possible reason for the presence or absence of severe pathology is prenatal exposure to schistosomiasis that modulates the future immune response later in life (Malhotra et al, 1997).…”