Development of a model of hookworm infection exhibiting salient characteristics of human infection.
Patent and pathologic infections of the human hookworm Necator americanus were established in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). In a pilot study, a laboratory strain of N. americanus was compared with a fresh field isolate. Pathology was more severe in animals infected with a fresh isolate. In all animals, infection was associated with increased total plasma IgE and production of IgG specific to adult worm excretory/secretory (ES) products. Histamine was released by basophils in response to IgE, ES products, and a recombinant hookworm allergen, calreticulin. The pilot study indicated the potential of this animal model of hookworm infection and led us to investigate the consequences of infecting a further cohort with the fresh field isolate. This second study confirmed our initial findings, that it is possible to investigate the human hookworm N. americanus in a model exhibiting many of the characteristics of the immunology of hookworm infection in its definitive host.
Biomedical Sciences Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.
Gareth D
GD
Griffiths
Alan P
AP
Brown
Doreen S W
DS
Hooi
Peter C
PC
Pearce
Rebecca J
RJ
Hornby
Leah
L
Scott
David I
DI
Pritchard
D000818:Animals; D002144:Callithrix; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects