The killing of newborn larvae of Trichinella spiralis by eosinophil peroxidase in vitro.

Helminth infections in mammals are characterized by a high level of eosinophils in parasitized tissues and blood, and it has recently been suggested that these cells have a direct parasiticidal effect. Newborn larvae of Trichinella spiralis can be killed within 20 min by incubation at room temperature in a cell-free system, including purified human eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), H2O2 and chloride at pH 5.5.