The immune response during a Strongyloides ratti infection of rats

A range of immune parameters was measured during a primary infection of Strongyloides ratti in its natural rat host. The immune parameters measured were interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ from both the spleen and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells; parasite-specific immunoglobulin G1(IgG1), IgG2a and IgG2b in serum and in intestinal tissue; parasite-specific IgG and total IgE in serum; parasite-specific and total IgA in intestinal tissue and rat mast cell protease II in intestinal tissue. Parasite-specific IgG1, IgG2a and total IgE in serum and parasite-specific IgA and rat mast cell protease II in intestinal tissue all occurred at significantly greater concentrations in infected animals, compared with non-infected animals. Similarly, the production of IL-4 by MLN cells stimulated with parasitic female antigen or concanavalin A occurred at significantly greater concentrations in infected animals, compared with non-infected animals. In all, this suggests that there is a T-helper 2-type immune response during a primary S. ratti infection. These data also show the temporal changes in these components of the host immune response during a primary S. ratti infection.