Cell-mediated immunity to Dirofilaria immitis.
Cell-mediated immunity to Dirofilaria immitis (DI) in guinea pigs was confirmed by the migration inhibition test (MIT), the blast transformation test (BTT), the delayed skin reaction, and the skin reaction by passive transfer with sensitized peritoneal exudate (PE) cells. All migration inhibition (MI) positive cases were always associated with positive skin reactions and two cases showed positive skin reactions without MI. The cellular antibody confirmed by MIT first appeared on the 4th day after single sensitization, but DNA synthesis in splenic lymphocytes had already started on the 3rd day in the absence of delayed skin reaction and MI. Then, the role of this cellular antibody in the immune mechanism against DI infection was investigated by the in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity test using microfilariae (Mf) of this species as a target. The cytotoxic activity significantly increased in the sensitized splenic and PE cells, and in vivo normal PE cells implanted into sensitized animals.
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012882:Skin Tests