The production of three cytokines, interferon gamma (IFN-y), interleukin 10 (1L-10) and interleukin 12 (IL-12), was measured after intraperitoneal infection of immunocompetent Balb/c mice and immunodeficient SCID mice with the microsporidian, Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau ct Schoen, 1923. High levels of IFN-y were detected in ex vivo cultures of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) of Balb/c mice, a lower, but earlier IFN-y response was observed in PEC from SCID mice. The early 1L-10 response was detected in ex vivo cultures of splenocytes from Balb/c but not from SCID mice, explaining a delay in the IFN-y response in Balb/c mice. IL-12 was detected in PEC cultures from SCID mice, indicating an alternative pathway of IFN-y production by NK. cells stimulated by IL-12 derived from macrophages.
Three strains of mice, BALB/c, IL-12 knock-out (KO) and INF-γ knock-out, were chosen as an experimental model for the study of intestinal immunity induction against Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 infection. Mice were infected perorally with 107 spores and re-infected with the same dose 70 days after the first infection. The anti-E. cuniculi IgA, IgG and IgM responses in sera and extracts of stool samples were determined by ELISA. Results have shown specific antibody production in the sera and intestinal secretions of all three strains of mice induced orally by E. cuniculi spores. BALB/c mice developed a stronger humoral immune response than IL-12 KO mice. The lowest antibody response developed in INF-γ KO mice that succumbed to the infection within 28 days post infection.
Examination of 4055 molluscs of 10 species from cenotes (= sinkholes) and other freshwater bodies in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico revealed the presence of-larval stages of 13 trematodes. The following species were found: Echinochasmus leopoldinae Scholz, Ditrich et Vargas-Vázquez, 1996, E. macrocaudatus Ditrich, Scholz et Vargas-Vázquez, 1996 (Echi-nostomatidae), Saccocoelioides sp. (? sogandaresi Lumsden, 1963) (Haploporidae), Crassicutis cichlasomae Manter, 1936, pleurolophocercous ophthalmocercaria sp. (Homalometridae), Ascocotyle (Ascocotyle) sp., Ascocotyle (Phagicola) nana Ransom, 1920 (Heterophyidae), Oligogonotylus manieri Watson, 1976 (Cryptogonimidae), Genarchella astyanactis (Watson, 1976) (Derogenidae), xiphidiocercariae sp. 1, 2 and 3 (Lecithodendriidae?), and furcocercaria gen. sp. (Fellodistomidae). The life-cycle of the derogenid Genarchella astyanactis was studied for the first time. It was found that it differs from that of G. genarchella: the first intermediate host, Pyrgophorus coronatus (Pfeiffer, 1839), released cystophorous furcocercariae of G. astyanactis that developed, after ingestion by the second intermediate host, copepods (experimentally Mesocyclops chaci Fiers, Reid, Ilife et Suárez-Morales, 1996), into metacercariae resembling by their morphology juvenile trematodes found in the stomach of Aslya-nax fasciatus. No progenetic cercariae (metacercariae) found in G. genarchella were observed in the life-cycle of G. astyanactis. Rediae and cystophorous furcocercariae were recovered from naturally infected snails and snails experimentally kept in contact with eggs from the uterus of G. astyanactis adults.