Immunoglobulin and cytokine profile in murine secondary hydatidosis

We have investigated specific immune responses in BALB/c mice with experimentally induced secondary hydatidosis. Following intraperitoneal inoculation of brood capsules containing Echinococcus granulosus-protoscoleces, the course of the infection was followed for 513 days. The sera of the mice were screened for the presence of a number of cytokines, and for specific antibodies. During the first 129 days of infection, high levels of cytokines TNFα, IL-α, IFNγ, IL-6, andIL-10 and specific IgGl andIgG3 isotypes were detected, as compared to uninfected controls. The levels oflgM and IgG2a were slightly increased following infection, and remained elevated throughout the period of observation. The levels of IL-lα and specific immunoglobulin of all isotypes except IgM and IgG2α, were significantly decreased 103 days post infection fp.i.), whereas TNFα was sharply decreased 129 days p.i. During the period of 129 to 209 days of infection there was an increase in secreted IL-10, and a slow decrease in the levels of IL-6 andlFN-γ. Levels of IgM, IgG, IgGl, and IgG2a plateaud during this period, whereas IgG3 and TNFα showed a peak at day 190 p.i. These data suggest the induction of Th2 antibody-mediated immunity with a parallel expansion of Thl-mediated inflammatory responses as important mechanism of host defence against the metacestode.