Host responses induced and elicited by cercariae, schistosomula, and cercarial antigenic preparations
Colley, D.G.; Savage, A.M.; Lewis, F.A.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 26(6 Pt 2): 88-95
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 413452 Document Number: 122804
Various concentrations of CAP (cercarial antigenic preparation) were placed in the lower chambers of blind-well chemotaxis chambers and separated from the upper compartment of Nucleopore polycarbonate filters. Peritoneal exudative cells from mice infected for 8 to 9 weeks with Schistosoma mansoni were placed in the upper chamber. CAP was found to be chemotactic to the mononuclear cells and eosinophils, and to some degree to neutrophils. The relative chemotactic effect of CAP was not augmented by mixing with mouse serum, whether the sera were from normal mice or from those infected chronically or for 8 weeks with S. mansoni. Attempts to induce a state of resistance to cercarial challenge in mice by sensitization with CAP were not successful. Studies on immunization by exposure to irradiated S. mansoni cercariae are briefly described. Observations support the view that eosinophils play a primary role in the protective events mounted against penetrating cercariae in the dermal responses of the previously infected host.