Kinetics of IgA and eosinophils following a low‐dose, predominantly Haemonchus contortus infection of Boer goats

Basripuzi, N. H., Sharma, R. S.K., Raimy, N., Mehru, N., Hussain, K., Busin, V. , Jenvey, C. J., Cairns, C. and Stear, M. J. (2020) Kinetics of IgA and eosinophils following a low‐dose, predominantly Haemonchus contortus infection of Boer goats. Parasite Immunology, 42(6), e12707. (doi: 10.1111/pim.12707) (PMID:32118305)

Abstract

Aims: Most breeds of goat are more susceptible to nematode infection than sheep and this appears to be a consequence of less effective immune responses. Several papers have considered the effectiveness of eosinophils and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in goats but differences in the induction of responses have not been studied in the same detail. The aim of this study was to look at the induction of eosinophil and IgA responses in Boer goats reared indoors under intensive conditions. Methods and results: The goats were experimentally infected with a low dose of 2400 Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. at a 6:1:1 ratio. Faecal egg counts (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), IgA activity against third‐stage larvae and peripheral eosinophilia were measured twice a week for eight weeks. The infection generated an IgA response but did not significantly increase peripheral eosinophilia in the 25 infected kids compared to the 4 control animals. FEC was not associated with IgA activity or eosinophilia. Conclusion: A detailed analysis of IgA and eosinophil responses to deliberate nematode infection in Boer goats showed that there was an increase in nematode‐specific IgA activity but no detectable eosinophil response. In addition, there was no association between increased IgA activity or eosinophilia with egg counts and worm burdens. These suggest that IgA and eosinophils do not act to control nematode infection in goats.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This study was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan in the forms of scholarship, bench fees and emoluments but they did not have any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, report writing, decision to publish, or preparation of the article.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Busin, Valentina and Stear, Professor Mike
• Authors: Basripuzi, N. H., Sharma, R. S.K., Raimy, N., Mehru, N., Hussain, K., Busin, V., Jenvey, C. J., Cairns, C., and Stear, M. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Parasite Immunology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0141-9838
• ISSN (Online): 1365-3024
• Published Online: 02 March 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 John Wiley & Sons
• First Published: First published in Parasite Immunology 42(6): e12707
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher