The effect of colostrum on pigs pre-natally or post-natally exposed to Schistosoma japonicum.
Pre-natal infection of Schistosoma japonicum in pigs may prove to be a useful model in shedding light on human pre-natal schistosomiasis. This study describes the effects of immune colostrum on worm burdens, tissue egg counts, liver pathology and crude worm or egg antigen-specific IgG and IgA responses, in groups of pigs pre-natally, pre-natally + post-natally or post-natally exposed to S. japonicum. Results suggest that pre-natal exposure and immune colostrum did not affect the establishment of a post-natal challenge infection. However, immune colostrum seemed to increase the levels of septal fibrosis in pre-natally exposed pigs. These findings indicate that further investigations will prove valuable, elucidating the influence of the parasitological and immunological status of the sow, on pre-natally exposed pigs, and on the ability of these pigs to develop resistance against S. japonicum later in life.
Techau
M E
ME
Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Jaegersborg Allé 1D, DK-2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark. michala.eichner-techau@cimr.cam.ac.uk
Johansen
M V
MV
Lind
P
P
Ornbjerg
N
N
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G