Parasite loss and inhibited development of Teladorsagia circumcincta in relation to the kinetics of the local IgA response in sheep

Abstract

Groups of yearling sheep, which had been trickle infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta for 8 weeks and then drenched, were challenged with 50 000 T. circumcincta larvae together with groups of worm‐free controls. Fewer parasites and a greater proportion of early fourth stage larvae were recovered from previously infected sheep compared to controls. Worm loss and arrested development were evident by 5 days after challenge whereas growth retardation of developing worms was observed by day 10. In the previously infected sheep a secondary IgA response was observed in the efferent gastric lymph from 5 days post‐infection. Western blot analysis showed the lymph IgA to be predominantly dimeric and nonsecretory in nature and that the somatic antigens recognized were predominantly in the 100–250 kDa range. The concentration of IgA in lymph was always higher than in blood and in the previously infected sheep increased fivefold 8 days post‐challenge in contrast to blood where IgA levels were unchanged. The timing of the response suggested that it occurred too late to have been the cause of worm loss or arrested development, though it may have retarded the growth of developing parasites.