Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-fv566 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-20T20:40:13.476Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Observations on worm population dynamics in calves naturally infected with Schistosoma mattheei

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

J. De Bont
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Studies, Samora Machel School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
J. Vercruysse
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
F. Sabbe
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Studies, Samora Machel School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
M. T. Ysebaert
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium

Summary

The evolution of faecal egg output, worm burdens and tissue egg counts in young calves was monitored during the first year of natural exposure to Schistosoma mattheei infection on a Zambian farm. According to the duration of their stay on the farm, these calves were classified into 2 groups of 14 temporary tracers (TT calves) which were introduced on a 2-monthly basis for residential periods of 2 months, and 12 permanent tracers (PT calves) introduced either at the beginning of the experiment (Group A) or 2 months later (Group B) and gradually removed after residential periods of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months on the farm. Worm counts in the TT calves showed that infection occurred throughout the year on the farm and that levels of infection acquired during each period of 8 weeks correlated well with the respective infected snail densities observed at the main transmission site. Marked differences in worm population dynamics were recorded between the 2 groups of PT calves. In Group B animals which apparently were initially exposed to heavy transmission, according to the results from TT calves, much higher worm counts and greater susceptibility to reinfection were observed than in Group A animals initially exposed to lighter exposure. These results suggest that the development of resistance to natural infection with S. mattheei may depend on the initial exposure to the parasite. Low initial exposures may lead to resistance whereas high initial exposures may result in decreased immune responses resulting in susceptibility to infection.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Auriault, C., Gras-Masse, H., Pierce, R. J., Butterworth, A. E., Wolowczuk, I., Capron, M., Ouma, J. H., Balloul, J. M., Khalife, J., Neyrinck, J. L., Tartar, A., Koech, D. & Capron, A. (1990). Antibody response of Schistosoma mansoni-infected human subjects to the recombinant P28 glutathione-S-transferase and to synthetic peptides. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 28, 1918–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bushara, H. O., Majid, A. A., Saad, A. M., Hussein, M. F., Taylor, M. G., Dargie, J. D., Marshall, T. F. de C. & Nelson, G. S. (1980). Observations on cattle schistosomiasis in the Sudan, a study in comparative medicine. II. Experimental demonstration of naturally acquired resistance to Schistosoma bovis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 29, 442–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bushara, H. O., Majid, B. Y. A., Majid, A. A., Khitma, I., Gameel, A. A., Karib, E. A., Hussein, M. F. & Taylor, M. G. (1983 a). Observations on cattle schistosomiasis in the Sudan, a study in comparative medicine. V. The effect of praziquantel therapy on naturally acquired resistance to Schistosoma bovis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 32, 1370–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bushara, H. O., Gameel, A. A., Majid, B. Y. A., Khitma, I., Haroun, E. M., Karib, E. A., Hussein, M. F. & Taylor, M. G. (1983 b). Observations on cattle schistosomiasis in the Sudan, a study in comparative medicine. VI. Demonstration of resistance to Schistosoma bovis challenge after a single exposure to normal cercariae or to transplanted adult worms. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 32, 1375–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butterworth, A. E. (1987). Immunity in human schistosomiasis. Acta Tropica 44, Suppl. 12, 3140.Google Scholar
Chandiwana, S. K., Christensen, N. Ø. & Frandsen, F. (1987). Seasonal patterns in the transmission of Schistosoma haematobium, S. mattheei and S. mansoni in the highveld region of Zimbabwe. Acta Tropica 44, 433–44.Google ScholarPubMed
Christensen, N. Ø., Mutani, A. & Frandsen, F. (1983). A review of the biology and transmission ecology of African bovine species of the genus Schistosoma. Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde 69, 551–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dargie, J. D. (1980). The pathogenesis of Schistosoma bovis infection in Sudanese cattle. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 74, 560–2.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bont, J. De, Vercruysse, J., Aken, D. Van, Southgate, V. R., Rollinson, D. & Moncrieff, C. (1991). The epidemiology of Schistosoma spindale Montgomery, 1906 in cattle in Sri Lanka. Parasitology 102, 237–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bont, J. De, Vercruysse, J., Southgate, V. R., Rollinson, D. & Kaukas, A. (1994). Cattle schistosomiasis in Zambia. Journal of Helminthology 68, 295–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bont, J. De, Vercruysse, J., Sabbe, F., Southgate, V. R. & Rollinson, D. (1995). Schistosoma mattheei infections in cattle: changes associated with season and age. Veterinary Parasitology 57, 299307.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Donnelly, F. A. & Appleton, C. C. (1985). Observations on the field transmission dynamics of Schistosoma mansoni and S. mattheei in southern Natal, South Africa. Parasitology 91, 281–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hagan, P., Blumenthal, U. J., Dunn, D., Simpson, A. J. G. & Wilkins, H. A. (1991). Human IgE, IgG4 and resistance to reinfection with Schistosoma haematobium. Nature, London 349, 243–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hira, P. R. (1975). Seasonal population densities of snails transmitting urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis in Lusaka, Zambia. Tropical and Geographical Medicine 27, 8392.Google ScholarPubMed
Kassuku, A. A., Christensen, N. Ø., Monrad, J., Nansen, P. & Knudsen, J. (1986). Epidemiological studies on Schistosoma bovis in Iringa Region, Tanzania. Acta Tropica. 43, 153–63.Google ScholarPubMed
Khalife, J., Dunne, D. W., Richardson, B. A., Mazza, G., Thorne, K. J., Capron, A. & Butterworth, A. E. (1989). Functional role of human IgG subclasses in eosinophil-mediated killing of schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni. Journal of Immunology 142, 4422–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lawrence, J. A. (1973 a). Schistosoma mattheei in cattle: variations in parasite egg production. Research in Veterinary Science 14, 402–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lawrence, J. A. (1973 b). Schistosoma mattheei in cattle: the host–parasite relationship. Research in Veterinary Science 14, 400–2.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lawrence, J. A. (1977). Schistosoma mattheei in the ox: observations on the parasite. Veterinary Parasitology 3, 291303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Majid, A. A., Marshall, T. F. de C., Hussein, M. F., Bushara, H. O., Taylor, M. G., Nelson, G. S. & Dargie, J. D. (1980). Observations on cattle schistosomiasis in the Sudan, a study in comparative medicine. I. Epizootiological observations on Schistosoma bovis in the White Nile Province. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 29, 435–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Massoud, J. & Nelson, G. S. (1972). Studies on heterologous immunity in schistosomiasis. 6. Observations on cross-immunity to Ornithobilharzia turkestanicum, Schistosoma bovis, S. mansoni, and S. haematobium in mice, sheep, and cattle in Iran. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 47, 591600.Google Scholar
Preston, J. M. & Webbe, G. (1974). Studies on immunity to reinfection with Schistosoma mattheei in sheep and cattle. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 50, 566–8.Google ScholarPubMed
Smithers, S. R. & Terry, R. J. (1967). Resistance to experimental infection with Schistosoma mansoni in rhesus monkeys induced by the transfer of adult worms. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 61, 517–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilkins, H. A. (1987). The epidemiology of schistosome infections in man. In The Biology of Schistosomes: from Genes to Latrines (ed. Rollinson, D. & Simpson, A. J. G.), pp. 379–97. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar