Acquired resistance to Fasciola hepatica in cattle using a purified adult worm antigen.
Calves were immunized twice in 4 weeks with a Fasciola/Schistosoma cross-reactive, cross-protective defined immunity antigen (denoted FhSmIII(M)) isolated from F. hepatica adult worm extracts by antibody affinity chromatography and challenged 7 weeks later with F. hepatica metacercariae. Flukes were recovered at 16 weeks of infection at which time the immunized calves had 55% less F. hepatica than the controls. All of the immunized calves developed high antibody levels of FhSmIII(M), detectable in the ELISA, by 4 weeks after a single immunization. By 9 weeks of infection with F. hepatica the immunized calves had lower sorbitol dehydrogenase levels than the unimmunized, F. hepatica-infected control calves, indicating less liver damage in the vaccinated group. These studies demonstrate that subcellular F. hepatica macromolecules cross-reactive and cross-protective against S. mansoni also have the potential to serve as vaccines in cattle exposed to this parasitic disease.
Hillyer
G V
GV
Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras 00931.
Haroun
E T
ET
Hernandez
A
A
de Galanes
M S
MS
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005210:Fasciola hepatica; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary*; D007064:L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007064:L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase