Acquired hookworm immunity in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) elicited by living Necator americanus third-stage infective larvae

The aim of the study is to demonstrate and understand the acquired immunity in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) elicited by primary Necator americanus infective third-stage larvae (L3) infection. Hamsters infected with 150 L3 for 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 weeks, were challenged with the same number of L3 and sacrificed 25 days post challenge. The primarily infected hamsters exhibited 99-100% protection against subsequent L3 challenge compared to un-infected naive hamsters. The acquired immunity was developed as early as 1 week post L3 infection and lasted up to 10 weeks. Similar protective immunity was obtained in hamsters infected with N. americanus L3 and then treated orally with a single of 100 mg/kg albendazole, followed by challenge with N. americanus L3 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment. The infected hamsters exhibited a rise in IgG antibodies against L3 and juvenile adult worm antigens. Histological examination showed that challenging L3 were trapped in the skin of primarily infected hamsters and surrounded or infiltrated by different inflammatory cells. The trapped L3 were damaged and dead followed by the formation of granulomas encasing dead worms. The results demonstrate that hamsters primarily infected with N. americanus L3 develop acquired immunity against re-infection.

Graphical abstractAcquired immunity against Necator americanus infection was obtained in hamsters primarily infected with L3 (Pictures e-h). It lasted for up to 10 weeks post the infection (Table 1) and persisted even after the adult worms were expelled with antheminthic (Table 2).Download full-size imageHighlights► Hamster primarily infected with Necator americanus larvae (L3) developed acquired immunity. ► L3-infected hamster showed a rise in anti-L3 and juvenile adult worm IgG antibody. ► The challenged L3 were trapped and damaged in the skin of L3-primarily infected hamster.