The nature of the immune response of the mouse to the bile duct cestode, Hymenolepis microstoma

Abstract

The immune reaction of the mouse to the cestode, Hymenolepis microstoma, has been investigated. The mouse can carry a worm burden of up to 500 mg wet wt and there is no evidence either of rejection of the parasite by the mouse or a slowing down of growth rate of the mouse as a result of the parasite.The nature of the antibody response has been investigated with regard to the type of antibody, onset of production, and titre.The nature of the antibody is discussed together with the fact that there is no rejection of the parasite. The possibility that a cellular immune response might be necessary for rejection is also discussed.I should like to express my thanks to Dr T. S. C. Orr of Fisons Research Laboratories, Loughborough, for many helpful comments and suggestions during the course of this work.My thanks are due also to Professor C. A. Hopkins who put the facilities of the Wellcome Laboratory at my disposal at all times. My thanks, too, to Miss Gillian Moore whose technical assistance was invaluable.The work was in part supported by a Grant from Fisons Ltd.