ZINC-DEFICIENCY AND HOST RESPONSE TO HELMINTH INFECTION - ECHINOSTOMA-CAPRONI INFECTIONS IN CBA MICE

The effect of zinc deficiency on the response of CBA mice to infection with the intestinal trematode Echinostoma caproni was examined. Young CBA mice were allocated to one of three dietary groups: a group fed a zinc deficient diet ad libitum, a control group pair fed a zinc suffi cient diet and a control group fed a zinc sufficient diet ad libitum. The mice on the zinc deficient diet gained significantly less weight t han the pair fed controls. In primary infections with six E. caproni m etacercariae followed over a period of 128 days, zinc deficiency delay ed worm expulsion. In addition, zinc deficiency resulted in a prolonge d IgM response, a delayed IgG response and an increased IgA response t owards the end of the experiment. Resistance to challenge infection da y 21 following a primary infection with 25 E. caproni metacercariae wa s slightly, but not significantly, affected by zinc deficiency.