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Immunoepidemiology of the equine tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata: age-intensity profile and age-dependency of antibody subtype responses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1997

C. J. PROUDMAN
Affiliation:
Veterinary Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine/Faculty of Veterinary Science, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA
M. A. HOLMES
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES
A. S. SHEORAN
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES
S. E. R. EDWARDS
Affiliation:
Division of Equine Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral L64 7TE
A. J. TREES
Affiliation:
Veterinary Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine/Faculty of Veterinary Science, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA

Abstract

The equine intestinal cestode Anoplocephala perfoliata has been the subject of recent epidemiological and immunological studies because of its suspected association with intestinal disease in the horse. We have previously shown that the IgG(T) subtype antibody response to the 12/13 kDa component of the parasite excretory/secretory (E/S) antigen is positively correlated with parasite intensity. In this study, we utilize that correlation to examine the changes in natural infection intensity with age. Infection intensity based on IgG(T) responses showed a triphasic age-dependency pattern with peak mean worm burden in the 6 months–2 years age group, falling to a lower plateau level from 3 to 15 years, and rising again in older age groups. Anti-E/S total IgG was found to have a convex age-dependency curve, with maximal response in the 6 months–2 years old age group. IgG(a) showed a triphasic response similar to the age-intensity profile of IgG(T); IgG(c) showed steadily increasing levels of antibody with age. The IgG(b) age-dependency profile was intermediate between IgG(a) and IgG(c). Age-specific correlation coefficients between anti-12/13 kDa IgG(T) (as a measure of infection intensity) and IgG(a) and IgG(b) revealed statistically significant values for many age groups. The relative importance of exposure to infection and the development of acquired immunity as determinants of the observed age-intensity pattern is considered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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