IGG ISOTYPE-SPECIFIC IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN RATS INFECTED WITH FASCIOLA-HEPATICA

Antibody responses (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG2c subclasses) against Fasciola hepatica L. in rats infected with metacercariae were analysed by ELISA. Animals of group 1 (R-1) remained infected throughout 21 we eks, and rats of group 2 (R-2) received a single oral dose of triclabe ndazole (Fasinex(R) 10%, Ciba-Geigy) at 4 weeks after infection. Group C (R-C) consisted of rats left intact which served as uninfected cont rols. All IgG subclasses increased during the first weeks after infect ion, but when triclabendazole was administered IgG1 and IgG2b diminish ed markedly. IgG2c showed a different profile to the other antibodies evaluated, increasing earliest and decreasing profoundly from the 9-11 th week after infection (w.a.i.). The infected-untreated rats produced higher titres of antibodies than the rats of R-2, and these differenc es were statistically significant (p<0.05) in all subclasses evaluated except in IgG2a titres. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.