title: Periparturient reduction in buffalo of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and antibody to Toxocara vitulorum.
abstract: Lymphocyte and antibody reactivity were examined during the periparturient period in buffalo cows naturally infected with Toxocara vitulorum. Titres of antibodies to an extract of T. vitulorum larvae increased about 3 months before parturition. Antibody titres declined at about the time of parturition and remained low for up to 3 months into lactation. Lowered titres were found in the IgG class and not the IgM class of immunoglobulins. Levels of lymphocyte transformation induced by the mitogens concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen declined markedly from one to 2 weeks before until one to 2 weeks after parturition. The relationship between this suppressed immunological reactivity and vertical transmission of T. vitulorum larvae is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science (Zoology), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Amerasinghe
authors.forename: V W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Vasanthathilake
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Fernando
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000276:immunology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008934:Mitogens