Nematospiroides dubius: multiple infections in mice bred for immune responsiveness.
Allogeneic mice were reared over 5 generations in a 2-way selection for high (H) and low (L) immune responsiveness to the intestinal trichostrongylid nematode Nematospiroides dubius. After 5 generations of selective breeding, the H mice passed fewer N. dubius eggs and harbored fewer, smaller and less fecund worms than did the L mice. These trends were observed after each of 4 consecutive infections, which were all treated with levamisole before reinfection. Further, more H than L mice were worm-free, and H mice were sensitized to sterile immunity by fewer infections than were needed by the L mice. These results encourage the view that the selective breeding of host species of agricultural importance is a valuable means of biologic control of nematodiasis.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D009351:Nematospiroides dubius / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
D000906:Antibodies