Cellular profiles in the abomasal mucosa and lymph node during primary infection with Haemonchus contortus in sheep

Cellular changes in the abomasal tissue and draining abomasal lymph nodes were examined after primary infection of lambs with Haemonchus contortus for 3, 5 or 27-36 days. Infection with H. contortus larvae resulted in a rapid and selective increase in the percentage of CD4(+) T-cells in the abomasal lymph node at 3 days post-infection (PI). By 5 days PI, the lymph node weight had increased two-fold; however, the percentage of lymphocyte populations in the abomasal lymph node resembled that seen in uninfected sheep. Lymph node weights remained at increased levels in the adult nematode infected sheep and down-regulation of B-cell surface markers (sIg and MHC Class II) was apparent in this group. Significant increases in the percentage of CD4(+) T-cells co-expressing MHC Class II, but not CD25, were observed in the larval infected groups except in adult nematode infected sheep. Increased numbers of eosinophils, CD4(+), gamma delta(+) T-cells and B-cells were found in the abomasal tissue by 5 days PI, but no further increases in these cell populations were observed in the adult nematode infected group. In contrast, the level of both lamina propria and intraepithelial mast cells observed in the abomasal mucosa was highest in the sheep carrying an adult nematode burden. These findings indicate that sheep are able to generate an early immune response to infection with H. contortus larvae, characterised by the activation of CD4 T-cells and B-cells in the draining lymph nodes and recruitment of eosinophils, CD4(+) and gamma delta-TCR,WC1(+) T-cells and B-cells in larval infected tissues. However, these changes do not seem to be maintained during infection with the adult parasite where increases in mast cell numbers dominate the local response, indicating that different parasite stages may induce distinct and possibly counteractive immune responses.