IMMUNE DEFENSE AND EOSINOPHILIA IN CONGENITALLY IGE-DEFICIENT SJA-9 MICE INFECTED WITH ANGIOSTRONGYLUS-COSTARICENSIS

The roles of IgE in protective immunity and eosinophilia in Angiostron gylus costaricensis infection were examined by comparing IgE-deficient SJA/9 mice and IgE-prodcuing SJL/J mice. In primary infection, mean t otal IgE levels increased to a maximum of 390 ng/ml, which was more th an 10 times greater than the 29 ng/ml measured preinfection in SJL/J m ice but less than the 10 ng/ml found in SJA/9 mice throughout the expe riment. Immune defense as determined by recovery of adult worms and eo sinophilia were similar in SJL/J and SJA/9 mice. Protective immunity w as induced by infection with A. costaricensis followed by treatment wi th levamisole for 4-6 days postinfection. After the challenge infectio n, the numbers of adult worms and eosinophils in SJA/9 mice were not s ignificantly different from those in SJL/J mice. Anti-A. costaricensis IgE antibody was not detected in either strain of mice during the exp eriment. These results indicate that A. costaricensis infection induce d the production of IgE not specific for parasite antigens in IgE-prod ucing mice. Potentiated nonspecific IgE played no significant role in immune defense and eosinophilia.