title: Immune response to Trichinella spiralis in the rat. I. Development of cellular and humoral responses during chronic infection.
abstract: The immune response of rats to infection with Trichinella spiralis was studied serially for more than 1 year. Initial antigen-specific cellular reactivity, assessed by the lymphocyte transformation response, developed in the draining mesenteric nodes 3 days after infection. After 1 week reactive lymphocytes were detectable in the spleen and circulating blood, but the more 'remote' peripheral nodes did not harbor antigen-reactive cells until late in the second week. Thereafter, the patterns of antigen-responsiveness varied among the different lymphoid pools, but in all cases a decline in reactivity was seen after the first month. Serum hemagglutinating and homocytotropic antibodies, detectable by the tenth day, reached their peaks after 1 month of infection. Hemagglutinating titers persisted for more than 1 year but homocytotropic antibody was lost over this period. Comparisons are drawn between the evolution of the natural infection and the development of the host's immune response.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens; D001773:Blood Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013634:Tannins; D014234:Trichinella / Q000276:immunology*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007518:Isoantibodies; D013634:Tannins