The effect of colostrum on pigs pre-natally or post-natally exposed to Schistosoma japonicum

M.E. Techau, M.V. Johansen, Peter Lind, N. Ornbjerg

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Pre-natal infection of Schistosoma japonicum in pigs may prove to be a useful model in shedding light on human pre-natal schistosomiasis. This study describes the effects of immune colostrum on worm burdens, tissue egg counts, liver pathology and crude worm or egg antigen-specific IgG and IgA responses, in groups of pigs pre-natally, pre-natally + post-natally or post-natally exposed to S. japonicum. Results suggest that pre-natal exposure and immune colostrum did not affect the establishment of a post-natal challenge infection. However, immune colostrum seemed to increase the levels of septal fibrosis in pre-natally exposed pigs. These findings indicate that further investigations will prove valuable, elucidating the influence of the parasitological and immunological status of the sow, on pre-natally exposed pigs, and on the ability of these pigs to develop resistance against S. japonicum later in life.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalParasitology
    Volume129
    Issue number5
    Pages (from-to)597-604
    ISSN0031-1820
    Publication statusPublished - 2004

    Keywords

    • IgA
    • colostrum
    • pre-natal exposure
    • IgG
    • Schistosoma japonicum

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