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. 1999 Jun 1;40(2):121–132. doi: 10.1186/BF03547029

Establishment of Ascaris suum in the Pig: Development of Immunity Following a Single Primary Infection

Ascaris suum i svin: Udviklingen af immunitet efter en primær infektion

A B Helwigh 1, P Nansen 1
PMCID: PMC8043156  PMID: 10605128

Abstract

Development of immunity after a single primary infection of Ascaris suum in pigs was investigated with regard to the worm population dynamics of a superimposed A. suum infection, host immune response and gross liver pathological changes. Group A was given a primary infection of 60 000 infective A. suum eggs and group B was left uninfected. Four weeks later both groups A and B were inoculated with 1000 A. suum eggs, and subgroups were slaughtered 7, 14 and 21 days post challenge infection (p.c.i.). An uninfected control group C was slaughtered on day 21 p.c.i. The challenge worm recovery in group A was reduced compared to group B by 12%, 50% and 75% on day 7, 14 and 21 days p.c.i., respectively. In both groups was the expulsion of worms initiated between day 14 and 21 p.c.i. However, in group A the worms were recovered more posteriorly in the small intestine and 21 days p.c.i. the mean worm length was significantly shorter than in group B (p = 0.01). The results above were associated with significantly higher (p<0.05) antibody response and higher eosinophil counts in group A compared to group B. The present results suggest that the larval growth and survival of a challenge infection are decreased, probably due to higher antibody and eosinophil attack during the migratory phase.

Keywords: challenge infection, worm kinetics, immune response

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