title: The induction of species-specific immunity against Schistosoma japonicum by exposure of rats to ultra-violet attenuated cercariae.
abstract: Single percutaneous immunizations of Fischer rats with 1000 ultra-violet attenuated Schistosoma japonicum cercariae induced 52-88% resistance to challenge 4 weeks later. Increasing this to 3 immunizations induced 90% resistance to challenge, and this level of protection remained undiminished for up to 40 weeks after vaccination. Rats vaccinated with gamma-irradiated S. mansoni cercariae were resistant to challenge with S. mansoni but not S. japonicum. Similarly rats vaccinated with u.v.-attenuated S. japonicum cercariae were not resistant to heterologous challenge. Thus irradiated vaccines are species-specific in both permissive and non-permissive hosts.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays