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The population dynamics of acquired immunity to Heligmosomoides polygyrus in the laboratory mouse: strain, diet and exposure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

A. E. Keymer
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS
A. B. Tarlton
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS

Extract

An experiment was designed to investigate aspects of the population dynamics of acquired immunity to Heligmosomoides polygyrus in laboratory mice. The influence of host strain (CBA or NIH), rate of exposure (5 or 40 L3/mouse/2 weeks) and diet (3 or 16% protein w/w) on the population dynamics of repeated infection and the response to a standard challenge infection were investigated. The time delay between the end of the period of repeated infection and the subsequent challenge (between 1 and 24 weeks) had no effect on worm recovery. The effects of both exposure and diet were significant and similar whether assessed on the basis of the dynamics of repeated infection or response to challenge: low rates of exposure and low dietary protein were both associated with low levels of acquired immunity. Mouse strain was the most important determinant of worm recovery after challenge, but had no significant effect on the degree to which parasite population growth was constrained by acquired immunity during repeated infection. It is suggested that both CBA and NIH mice raise immune responses which act on parasite survival, but that only NIH mice raise responses operative against larval establishment.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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