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Acta Parasitologica, Vol.44, No. 3, 1999, 199-203
Gorski Pawel (1), Krawiec Maria (2), Behnke Jerzy M. (3) ,Wedrychowicz Halina (1)* - Mast cell, eosinophil and IgE antibody response of BALB/c mice to percutaneous infection with the canine hookworm Uncinaria stenocephala.

(1) Department of Parasitology and (2) Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Warsaw Agricultural University, Grochowska 272, 03-849 Warszawa, Poland; (3) Department of Life Science, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.

*Corresponding author.


ABSTRACT

The host-parasite relationship of the post-infection tissue resident and migratory stages of Uncinaria stenocephala are areas, which have received very little attention to-date. In the present experiments cellular and serum antibody responses were evaluated in mice infected percutaneously with infective larvae of the nematode. Significant eosinophil infiltration was observed in the skin at the site of infection. The number of these cells increased significantly (p<0.01) and dramatically at the site of the first infection (abdomen) within 24 h of exposure to the second dose of larvae which was administered at a different site (back). A clear IgE response of mice to somatic and surface antigens of L3 was observed. There was no further increase in IgE to the somatic antigen preparations following challenge, but a significantly higher concentration of IgE reactivity to surface antigens was detected 14 days after challenge. A short-lived, IgM, IgG and IgA response to the somatic antigens was also detected.


KEY WORDS: Uncinaria stenocephala, hookworms, IgE, eosinophils
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