Comparison of local and systemic responsiveness of lymphocytes in vitro to Bovicola ovis antigen and concanavalin A in B. ovis infested and naive lambs

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1995
Authors:J. Bany, Pfeffer, A., Phegan, M. D.
Journal:International journal for parasitology
Volume:25
Issue:12
Pagination:1499 - 1504
Date Published:1995
ISBN Number:0020-7519
Keywords:animals, antigens, Comparative Study, In Vitro, Lice Infestations/immunology/veterinary, Lymphocyte Activation, Lymphocytes/immunology, Lymphoid Tissue/immunology, Mallophaga, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Seasons, sheep, Sheep Diseases/immunology
Abstract:

The in vitro proliferation assay was used to determine lymphocyte responsiveness to soluble antigen of B. ovis and to Concanavalin A (Con A) in peripheral blood, spleen and various lymph nodes from B. ovis-infested and naive lambs. From March to July, an assay of monthly blood samples showed generally higher proliferative responses to antigen and Con A in B. ovis-infested than naive lambs. The proliferative response of cells from the skin-draining prescapular lymph nodes to B. ovis antigen was significantly higher in B. ovis-infested than naive lambs. Responses of cells from the medial iliac, mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes (which do not receive lymph from the skin) and spleen showed no significant differences between groups. Within the B. ovis-infested lambs, the response of cells from the prescapular lymph node was significantly higher than that from any other lymphoid organ examined. Responsiveness of the prescapular, medial iliac and mesenteric lymph node and spleen cells to Con A was not significantly different between groups, while mediastinal lymph node cells showed a significantly higher response in B. ovis-infested lambs. The data indicate that the antigen-specific cellular immune response is operating mainly locally, at the level of the skin and draining lymph nodes. Responses to the T cell mitogen Con A did not support non-specific immunodepression as reported in other ectoparasite/host systems.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith