Schistosoma mansoni infection in intact and B cell deficient mice: the effect of pretreatment with BCG in these experimental models.
The course of infection with Schistosoma mansoni was determined in B cell deficient mice by means of a schistosomule lung recovery assay 6 days after infection or by determination of the adult worm burden 7 weeks after infection. The intensity of infection was not significantly different from that in age- and sex-matched intact controls. B cell deficiency was demonstrated by absence of surface immunoglobulin-bearing cells in the spleen and by absence of B cell areas in the lymphoid follicles of the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. In addition, B cell deficient mice infected for 7 weeks with S. Mansoni were unable to form anti-schistosome antibodies detectable by the Cercarienhüllenreaktion. A normal granulomatous response, however, was observed around schistosome eggs. Pretreatment with BCG suppressed infection with S. mansoni comparably in intact and B cell deficient mice. A marked depletion of eosinophils occurred in the schistosome egg granuloma of all BCG treated mice.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001500:BCG Vaccine