REGULATION OF PRIMARY STRONGYLOIDES-RATTI INFECTIONS IN MICE - A ROLEFOR INTERLEUKIN-5

C57BL/6 mice genetically deficient in interleukin-5 (IL-5(-/-)) and no rmal C57BL/6 (IL-5(+/+)) mice were infected with larvae of a homogonic strain of the nematode Strongyloides ratti. In primary infections bot h male and female IL-5(-/-) mice released two to four times more eggs and larvae than IL-5(+/+) mice. IL-5(-/-) mice harboured about 60% mor e intestinal worms, which were more fecund, than IL5(+/+) mice. The du ration of the infection was similar in normal and IL-5-deficient mice. Both IL-5(-/-) and IL-5(+/+) mice resisted a secondary infection. IL5 (-/-) mice lost more weight during the infection than normal mice and took longer to regain their initial weight after expelling the worms. The number of eosinophils increased in the bone marrow, peritoneal cav ity and small intestine of IL-5(+/+) mice, but not IL-5(-/-) mice, fol lowing infection. No significant differences between infected IL-5(+/) and IL-5(-/-) mice in mast cells or other leucocytes were observed i n the peritoneal cavity. Thus, IL-5 functions to protect the host in a primary infection of S. ratti by limiting the number and fecundity of worms establishing in the small intestine. This protection is correla ted with elevated blood and tissue eosinophilia which occurs in normal mice but not in IL-5(-/-) mice.