Direct immunization of the abomasum or rectum of goats induces local lymph node responses against Haemonchus contortus mucosal antigens

We investigated several methods to immunize the abomasum (fourth and gastric stomach) of kid goats by direct (abomasal) or distal (rectal or nasal) routes utilizing mucosal antigens isolated from the abomasal parasite, Haemonchus contortus. Direct (ultrasound guided), immunization of the abomasal mucosa together with rectal immunization established lymphocyte proliferation responses in abomasal lymph nodes (ALNs), while distal methods, alone, produced equivocal results. The differential responses (cellular and antibody) induced by alternative immunization methods demonstrated an experimental system that can facilitate advances in mucosal immunization against H. contortus and other gastrointestinal pathogens of food animals.