Studies on stage‐specific immunity against Taenia Taeniaeformis metacestodes in mice

Abstract

Summary The possible existence of stage‐specific immune responses to Taenia Taeniaeformis infection was investigated in C3H/He mice vaccinated with antigens prepared from either the oncosphere or metacestode stages. Mice were immunized twice, 2 weeks apart, with antigen in Freund'B complete adjuvant. Two weeks after the second immunization they were challenged with 250 T. Taeniaeformis eggs and killed day 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 and 60 after infection. Gross examination of the livers revealed marked differences between oncosphere (TtO) and metacestode (TtM) vaccinated mice. Very few metacestodes were found in the first group but most of those that evaded the initial host attack develope..