The kinetics of the lymphoblast response in mice during the course of a primary infection with Hymenolepis nana was measured by the in vivo uptake of 125IUdR. The response was most marked in tissues local to the site of infection, involving to nodes draining the small intestine but not other areas, e.g., inguinal lymph nodes. A close correlation between these responses and the course of inflection was observed. Uptake of 125IUdR was greatest in the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) but the peak reached in this organ was later than that in Peyer's patches (PP), small intestine (SI) and spleen (S). The increase in lymphoblast activity of the MLN was similar with Trichinella spiralis; no significant blast cell response to inflection with H. diminuta was found till day 9 after injection, the results being similar to those obtained when H. nana inflections were established using cysticercoids rather than eggs. It has been shown that the increase in lymphoblast activity was closely correlated with the presence of cells which are most effective in adoptive transfer immunity. A dose-dependent effect was detected in blast cell activity of MLN in different inflection levels with T. spiralis and H. nana.

The dynamics of secondary infections with Hymenolepis citelli in mice are described. A primary infection of one and six cysticercoids for 21 days sensitized CFLP male mice against homologous challenge infections. Acquired resistance was manifested mainly as stunting/destrobilation of secondary worms. The severity of stunting depended on the intensity of the primary infection. Secondary worms were not expelled more rapidly than primary worms but the protective response retards growth early in challenge infections. Sensitization of mice for seven days with six or 24 cysticercoids did not confer a measurable protective response, whereas priming by the same regime for 21 days induced a significant Protective response. Acquired resistance to challenge waned with time in the absence of the primary Worms. The growth and survival of a six-cysticercoid primary infection was enhanced by the administration of the immunosuppressant drug cortisone acetate. Worms from cortisone-treated mice Were heavier than those from untreated controls. Acquired resistance to homologous challenge was also Partially ablated in cortisone-treated mice. It is suggested that rejection of primary infections and stunting/destrobilation of secondary worms may be immunologically mediated.

Third-stage and fourth-stage Dirofilaria immitis larvae exhibited positive thermotaxis when placed in a thermal gradient. Negative thermotaxis was not observed. Positive thermotaxis may be important for the successful transmission and for directing third and fourth-stage larval migration toward predilection sites in the Host.

Various cooling (01–5.100 Cmin−1) and warming (2O–6,8OO½Cmin−1) rates, stepped cooling schedules and four cryoprotective additives (dimethyl sulphoxide, methanol, ethanediol and glycerol) were investigated in cryopreservation studies with Dictyocaulus viviparus third-stage larvae. Exsheathment with sodium hypochlorite was essential to achieve significant survival. With uninterrupted cooling, highest survival (30% normally motile) was achieved with rates of 10–70½C min−1. Survival was higher (50–75%) using 1 ½C min−1 to — 10½C followed by plunging into liquid nitrogen. The optimum warming rate was 6,8OO½C min−1. The use of cryoprotectants led to marginally lower survival while varying the suspending media had no significant effect on survival. X-irradiated, exsheathed third-stage larvae cryopreserved by the optimum protocol yielded 38–3 ±4–2% survival. Two calves each infected with 45,000 (15,000 viable) exsheathed, unirradiated, C“ryopreserved third-stage larvae harboured 494 worms (11% infectivity) and 355 worms (0-8%) at necropsy. Numbers of first-stage larvae in the faeces reached 420/G and 105/G respectively 27 days after infection.

A series of experiments examined the effects of various media, serum supplements, gas phases and the incorporation of mammalian cell feeder layers on the survival on Onchocerca gutturosa adult worms in vitro. The survival of male worms was poor in all media tested that were not supplemented with inactivated foetal calf serum (IFCS), with improved but variable survival in media supplemented with 10–30% IFCS. Using a cell-free system in an atmosphere of 5% CO2in air, good results were obtained in medium NCTC 135 + 10% IFCS (median survival time 39 days, range 25–41). Marginally better survival was obtained with the same medium in an atmosphere of 95% N2/5% CO2 (medium 45 days, range 25–56)and with a 1:1 mixture of media NCTC 135 and IMDM+10% IFCS(medium 38 days, range 38–51). Survival was enhanced in culture systems which incorporated bovine kindney (MDBK) cells, bovine trachea (EBTR) cells and monkey kidney (LLCMK2) cells. Exceptionally long survival was obtained using medium MEM+10% IFCS+LLCMK2 cells under a gas phase of 5% CO2in air, in which male worms survived from approximately 6 to over 7 months. Under similar conditions, female worms were also maintained for periods of up to 6 months and 5 out of 18 specimens released microfilariae into the culture system. The long-term culture described in this study will be useful for basic biochemical, chemotherapeutic and immunological studies in vitro.

The phenol oxidase of a monogenean, Paramazocraes thrissocles, oxidizes phenolic amines more effectively than other phenols studied. Based on the substrate specificity, the probable substrate for eggshell formation has been suggested. The enzyme shows the pH optimum of 7–2. At 40°C it shows maximum activity. Proenzyme is activated by metal ions and detergents. Copper chelating compounds strongly inhibit the enzyme.

The relationships between larvae and adults of Anisakis from the Mediterranean Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean were analysed by multilocus electrophoresis. The correspondence of type I larvae with the A. simplex complex, including the sibling species A. simplex A and B, and of type II larvae with A. physeteris is confirmed. 19 of the 22 loci studied discriminated between the two larval types. Biochemical keys are given for the electrophoretic identification of A. simplex A, A. simplex B and A. physeteris, at both the larval and adult stages.

The use of 75Selenomethionine labelled cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni for ultrastructural localization of parasites in host tissues has been evaluated. Both gamma counting of tissue, and autoradiography of resin-embedded tissue were successful. The autoradiographic technique was more sensitive and schistosomula were readily located in pulmonary tissue up to 24 days post-infection.

The presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in the sera of dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis was detected by using a Clq-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Specificity of this assay with different concentrations of heat-aggravated canine IgG (ACG) was observed, i.e., the ELISA readings, expressed as ug equivalents ACG/ml, increased with increasing amounts of ACG. The intra-assay variability was below 10%. The CIC levels of infected and uninfected dogs were 177–0± 104–7 ug/ml and 22–8±45–8 ng/ml (mean±SD), respectively. The highest level was observed in 12 dogs with amicrofilaraemic infection. Age distribution of CIC levels in the 23 infected dogs also showed a significant positive correlation. These findings suggested that the CIC are present in the sera of dogs with dirofilariasis and may relate to canine glomerulonephritis.