Eosinophilia inAscaris suum-reinfected mice

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe secondary response of eosinophilia has been studied in mice infected withA. suum. In mice infected orally with 1000A. suumeggs, larvae disappeared from the body within two weeks after infection. The number of peripheral blood eosinophils decreased to the pre-infection level within eight weeks. A typical secondary response of IgG antibody production to egg antigen was found after reinfection with 1000 eggs. The number of peripheral blood eosinophils increased more rapidly after reinfection than after the primary infection. However, the peak number of eosinophils after reinfection was similar to that after primary infection, and the long-lasting characteristics of eosinophilia after reinfection did not differ from those after primary infection. These results suggest that the secondary response of eosinophilia is characterized by a rapid increase in the number of eosinophils inA. suum-reinfected mice.