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Microscopical observations on immune precipitates formed in vitro on the surface of hymenolepid tapeworms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

D. Hoole
Affiliation:
Parasitology Research Group, Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Department of Biological Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK
J. Andreassen
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Population Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
D. Birklund
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Population Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

Summary

Four-day-old worms of the tapeworms Hymenolepis microstoma, H. diminuta and H. nana and newly excysted H. microstoma were exposed in vitro at 37 °C to immune serum from mice infected for 4–1 2 weeks with H. microstoma. Worms were fixed for electron microscopy after intervals of 5 min to 96 h. Within 10–15 min an homogeneous precipitate occurred between the microtriches of 4-day-old H. microstoma and H. nana, while on some areas of H. microstoma the precipitate extended distal to the microthrix border and contained small vesicles (30 nm in diameter) and shed microtriches. In H. diminuta precipitates were not found until 2 h post-incubation. The thickness of the precipitate and the number of small vesicles and shed microtriches increased with time after incubation. Since a similar precipitate occurred on worms kept in complement-depleted immune serum, antibodies alone may induce immune damage. The precipitate on newly excysted H. microstoma lacked microthrix fragments. After 48 h an extensive precipitate was found protruding from the rostellar glands on some H. microstoma, and within the culture vessel. Antibodies may therefore be complexing with tapeworm secretory products.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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