Immunological and hematological response in experimental Toxocara canis-infected pigs.
The relationship between the immunological and hematological response to infection was studied in pigs inoculated experimentally with Toxocara canis. Two groups of four pigs were infected with doses of 1000 and 2000 infective eggs, respectively. Two uninfected animals were used as negative controls. Blood samples were collected from each pig once a week. Serological examination by ELISA to determine antibody levels against T. canis L2/L3 excretory-secretory (ES) antigens showed values higher than the positive cut-off point (1:32) for both the infected groups. These values increased from day 7 p.i. and remained high during the experimental period until day 56. Significant differences were recorded for the two inoculating doses (p</=0.01) from day 14 to 42 p.i. Western blots run on day 7 p.i. with serum from the 2000 eggs group showed two polypeptide bands of 70 and 55kDa. These same bands were observed for both infected groups from day 15 p.i. until the end of the experiment. Eosinophil counts were significantly higher (p</=0.05) for both inoculated groups between weeks 2 and 7 p.i. as compared with the control group. No significant changes were observed for other blood parameters. The pig is a useful animal model since T. canis induces an early immunological response and ELISA can detect the presence of these antibodies against T. canis L(2)/L(3) ES antigens in animals inoculated with low doses of Toxocara eggs.
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín 280, 1427, Buenos Aires, Argentina. isom@fvet.uba.ar
I E
IE
Sommerfelt
G
G
Santillán
C
C
Lopez
M
M
Ribicich
A J
AJ
Franco
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009000:Monocytes; D013552:Swine; D017166:Toxocara canis; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth