Protective immunity and antibody response of rats infected with Trichinella spiralis.

Objective: To study the protective immunity and antibody (IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a) response against adult and larva infection of T. spiralis Korean isolate in rats.

Methods: Forty-six rats were randomly divided into 7 groups.

Changes of cytokine mRNA expression and IgG responses in rats infected with Capillaria hepatica.

The mRNA expression of several cytokines was evaluated in splenocytes and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells of rats infected with Capillaria hepatica by reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR until week 12 after infection. IgG1 and IgG2a, which are associated with Th1 and Th2 response, respectively, were also assessed by ELISA. The results indicated that the majority of cytokines, including the Th1 (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL- 10) were expressed at maximal levels during the early stage of infection (after week 1-2), and the ELISA data also evidenced a similar pattern of changes in IgG1 and IgG2a.