Further observations on the nature and characteristics of cross protection against Fasciola hepatica produced in sheep by infection with Cysticercus tenuicollis

Abstract

Dineen J. K., Kelly J. D. and Campbell N. J. 1978. Further observations on the nature and characteristics of cross protection against Fasciola hepatica produced in sheep by infection with Cysticercus tenuicollis. International Journal for Parasitology 8: 173–176. Previous studies showed that sheep infected with Cysticercus tenuicollis were protected against a subsequent infection with Fasciola hepatica given at 12 weeks (Campbell, Kelly. Townsend & Dineen, 1977). The present studies showed that these animals were again protected against re-challenge with F. hepatica at 9 months. Resistance was detected about 10 weeks after re-challenge with metacercariae. Sheep in which the initial C. tenuicollis infections were terminated by anthelmintic at 12 weeks, were resistant to the primary infection with F. hepatica but became fully susceptible to the re-challenge at 9 months. These results suggest that maintenance of resistance depends upon persistence of the C. tenuicollis infections. They also indicate that resistance is maintained by cysts in the peritoneum which is remote from the reactive site (liver). Infection with F. hepatica at 3 weeks after infection with C. tenuicollis prevented cross protection against both the primary infection with F. hepatica and re-challenge at 9 months.