The effect of transfer factor treatment on two challenge infections ofHaemonchus contortus in immuno-competent 7-month-old lambs

Abstract

A number of immuno-competent Blackface lambs were infected with 10,000 Haemonchus contortus third stage larvae and were later challenged with a second dose of 10,000 H. contortus third stage larvae. One group of lambs was treated with dialysed transfer factor prior to the second challenge dose. Histological changes in the abomasal wall, reductions in abomasal worm burdens at slaughter and faecal egg counts monitored throughout the experiment suggested the presence in some animals of an innate resistance, a "self curing" effect, an enhancement of this "self curing" effect in the transfer factor treated group and a response in one transfer factor treated animal comparable to "classical self cure".