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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #63513
Title: IMMUNE RESPONSES OF NEONATAL TO WEANLING MICE IN RESPONSE TO CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM ANTIGEN

Author
item Harp, James
item SACCO, RANDY - IA STATE UNIV., AMES, IA

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Lymphocyte phenotypes and cellular immune responses to Cryptosporidium parvum were determined for spleen cells taken from BALB/c mice. These parameters were measured in mice at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of age. Mice were exposed to C. parvum by oral inoculation at 1 week of age, and data obtained using spleen cells from these mice were compared with data obtained using spleen cells from age-matched mice not exposed to C. parvum in vivo. The percent of T cells and the T-helper subset increased from week 2 to 4; B cells reached a peak percent at 2 weeks. Blastogenic responses were elevated at 1 week, and declined to a low level during weeks 2 to 4. Interferon-gamma production was maximal at 4 weeks. No interleukin-5 production was seen. Data obtained were similar for cells from mice either exposed or not exposed to C. parvum in vivo. These data indicate that age-related changes, particularly the increased percent of T cells and increased interferon-gamma production are temporally related to the acquisition of resistance of mice to colonization with C. parvum. The data also indicate that these age-related changes occur in the absence of specific exposure to parasite antigens.