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.
Griffiths
Gareth D
GD
Biomedical Sciences Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.
Brown
Alan P
AP
Hooi
Doreen S W
DS
Pearce
Peter C
PC
Hornby
Rebecca J
RJ
Scott
Leah
L
Pritchard
David I
DI
D000818:Animals; D002144:Callithrix; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects