Schistosoma mansoni: Eosinophilia and the development of lymphocyte blastogenesis in response to soluble egg antigen in inbred mice

Abstract

Mice of four inbred strains (A/J, C/57BL/6J, CBA/J, BALB/c) were compared as definitive hosts of Schistosoma mansoni. All four strains allowed the maturation of adult worms, but the percentage of recovery of mature worms varied widely according to strain (A/J, 36%, C/57BL/6J, 42%; CBA/J, 58%; BALB/c, 78%). The cell-mediated immune response of these mice to a soluble schistosomal egg antigen was determined by in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis during the course of the infection. All strains exhibited this response by 1 1 2 –2 weeks after oviposition, but the reaction was of low degree and transient in BALB/cmice. Peripheral blood eosinophil counts were determined during infection in A/J and CBA/J mice; three periods of eosinophilia (of varying intensities) were noted corresponding in time to initial cercarial penetration, development of adult worms, and production of eggs.