Influence of pattern of exposure, parasite genetic diversity and sex on the degree of protection against reinfection with Schistosoma mansoni

Parasitol Res. 2007 Jul;101(2):247-52. doi: 10.1007/s00436-007-0476-0. Epub 2007 Feb 20.

Abstract

This paper analyzed, experimentally, the influences of pattern of exposure, parasite genetic diversity, and parasite sex on the degree of protection against reinfection with Schistosoma mansoni in the mouse. The results show that, (1) in infections with one male parasite genotype, successive infections induced a significant decrease in the infectivity of the parasite and significant increases in the spleen and liver weights compared to mass infections, (2) successive infections with one male genotype induced a significant decrease in the infectivity of the parasite compared to successive infections with five male genotypes, and (3) genotype infectivities were determined by the order at which they were used in the successive infections. These results are discussed in terms of protective effect and concomitant immunity and provide an ecological explanation of the natural sex-biased dispersal toward the male schistosomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation / immunology*
  • Genotype
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Schistosoma mansoni / genetics
  • Schistosoma mansoni / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / prevention & control*
  • Sex*
  • Spleen / pathology