Decrease in establishment of Haemonchus contortus caused by inoculation of a Taenia hydatigena larvae vesicular concentrate

The effect of Taenia hydatigena larvae vesicular concentrate (ThLVC) on the establishment of an experimental infection by Haemonchus contortus was evaluated. The lambs that received ThLVC showed a greater (P < 0.05) average of blood eosinophils (BE) than the lambs that did not receive ThLVC. Lambs that were only infected with H. contortus larvae showed a fecal egg count (FEC) and an adult phase (AP) number greater (P < 0.05) than lambs that received ThLVC prior to infection. No effect was observed in size and prolificacy of AP after the administration of ThLVC. The infection with H. contortus caused an increase (P < 0.05) in CD4+ lymphocytes in abomasal lymph node (ALN) and the combination of ThLVC plus the infection with H. contortus caused an increase (P < 0.05) in CD4+ lymphocytes in the abomasal wall (AW). In addition, a positive correlation between gamma-delta lymphocytes of ALN (r = 0.73, P < 0.05) with the presence of AP in the abomasum was observed. The quantity of plasma cells in ALN and AW was not affected by the administration of ThLVC nor related to the resistance observed. The results shown in this work leave no doubt that ThLVC administration prior to inoculation produces eosinophilia and partially protects against the establishment of H. contortus. However, this protection is not only attributable to the role of eosinophils, since ThLVC can function stimulating other immune response cells, such as T lymphocytes, both contributing to prevent the presence of worms.