title: Immune response of goats immunised with glutathione S-transferase and experimentally challenged with Fasciola hepatica.
abstract: Glutathione S-transferase (FhGST) purified from Fasciola hepatica adult worms was used to immunise goats against F. hepatica in an experimental infection; the level of protection, in terms of fluke burden, faecal egg counts and hepatic damage was determined, as well as the humoral and cellular immune response elicited. Animals were allocated into three groups of six animals each: group 1 (immunised with FhGST and infected), group 2 (unimmunised and infected), and group 3 (unimmunised and uninfected). There was no significant reduction of fluke burden (9.3%) or faecal egg counts; hepatic damage was also similar in both infected groups. However, immunisation with FhGST induced the development of a well-defined immune response, characterized by the production of specific-FhGST antibodies as well as the appearance of circulating IL-4.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Department (Parasitology), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Ctra. Madrid-Cádiz, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buffoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zafra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Ecija
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Martínez-Moreno
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-Galisteo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Moreno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006041:Goats / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D010270:Parasite Egg Count
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D015847:Interleukin-4; D005982:Glutathione Transferase