AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT CATS AGAINST INFESTATION WITH CTENOCEPHALIDES-FELIS-FELIS USING GUT MEMBRANE-ANTIGENS AS A VACCINE

Cats (n = 5) were vaccinated with membrane antigens extracted from the gut of unfed fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) together with Quil A and RIBI as adjuvants. Five unvaccinated cats were retained as contro ls. All the cats were infested on 6 separate occasions with fleas (46- 250 per challenge). Protection was assessed from the number of fleas r etrieved and the fecundity of the female fleas, measured as the number of developed oocytes contained in the reproductive tract. Cats inject ed with gut membrane antigens had significantly elevated levels of ant i-flea antibodies in their sera, but they were neither protected signi ficantly against infestation with fleas nor was the apparent fecundity of fleas which had fed on vaccinated cats decreased. The possible rea son why gut membrane antigens failed to protect cats against fleas are discussed.