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Induction of Immunity in Mice to Fasciola Hepatica with a Fasciola/Schistosoma Cross-Reactive Defined Immunity Antigen

The paradox of schistosomiasis is that infection confers immunity to its host, yet immunization with subcellular antigens of the parasite does not, in general, induce protective immunity. Infection or immunization with subcellular antigens of Fasciola hepatica confers high levels of immunity to a challenge infection with another trematode, Schistosoma mansoni. We have isolated by antibody affinity chromatography a Fasciola hepatica/Schistosoma mansoni cross-reactive antigen, designated Fh_SmIII(M), and also have shown that this antigen confers immunity in mice to a challenge infection with S. mansoni. This antigen was compared with a crude F. hepatica worm extract (FhWWE) as to its ability to induce an IgG antibody response in mice, and to determine whether it had a protective effect in mice to a challenge infection with F. hepatica metacercariae. Mice immunized with Fh_SmIII(M) or FhWWE, and subsequently infected with F. hepatica, developed higher IgG antibody levels to Fh_SmIII(M), as measured by ELISA, than F. hepatica-infected controls. Mice immunized with FhWWE did not develop significant levels of resistance to challenge with F. hepatica metacercariae. Mice immunized with Fh_SmIII(M) and infected with F. hepatica metacercariae developed 69%–78% less worms than controls. An F. hepatica/S. mansoni cross-reactive, cross-protective defined immunity antigen confers in mice significant levels of protection to a challenge infection with F. hepatica.

Accepted for publication April 16, 1985.