IMMUNE AND INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES TO REPRODUCTIVE-TRACT INFECTION WITH TRITRICHOMONAS-FETUS IN IMMUNIZED AND CONTROL HEIFERS

Citation
Ml. Anderson et al., IMMUNE AND INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES TO REPRODUCTIVE-TRACT INFECTION WITH TRITRICHOMONAS-FETUS IN IMMUNIZED AND CONTROL HEIFERS, The Journal of parasitology, 82(4), 1996, pp. 594-600
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Parasitiology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00223395
Volume
82
Issue
4
Year of publication
1996
Pages
594 - 600
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3395(1996)82:4<594:IAIRTR>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
Histopathologic changes and local antibody responses were studied in i mmunized and control heifers after intravaginal challenge with 10(6) T ritrichomonas foetus. Animals were given 3 intramuscular inoculations of immunoaffinity-purified superficial antigen, TF 1.17, in 2 differen t adjuvant combinations (incomplete Freund's adjuvant or dextran sulfa te plus IFA-8 animals each) or adjuvant alone at 3-wk intervals and we re challenged with T. foetus 2 wk later. Histologically, a nonsuppurat ive endometritis with nodular lymphoid aggregates in the stratum spong iosum was present in 9 of 24 heifers. Twice as many control heifers as immunized had moderate to severe endometritis at 10 wk and the rate o f clearance of the organism was significantly faster in immunized than in control heifers. Furthermore, time of clearance was statistically correlated with severity of endometritis at 10 wk postinfection, when necropsies were done (P < 0.02). Because 9-10 wk postinfection is thou ght to be the critical period for determining fetal loss associated wi th endometritis, this correlation with early clearance is important to protection against disease. In heifers with moderate to severe infilt ration of mononuclear cells in the endometrium, lymphoid nodules and s ome secondary follicles were detected. In the subgroup of 12 animals f rom which uterine secretions were collected, IgA antibody responses to antigen were detected by 6 wk in infected animals with increases in m ean responses at 8 and 10 wk, but not in uninfected animals. A rationa le is presented for consideration of the lymphoid nodules as a possibl e inductive site for this local antibody response to T. foetus.