Vaccination of young lambs against infection with Nematodirus battus using gamma irradiated larvae

Helminthologically naIve 6-week-old Suffolk lambs were given 1-3 doses of 20000 gamma-irradiated infective larvae (L3) of the nematode Nematodirus battus at weekly intervals. Following an anthelmintic drench they were challenged with 50000 viable L3 at 10 weeks of age. Nematode worm burdens 14 days post-challenge showed a significant (P<0.01) 66% reduction in the single vaccine dose group. The two and three dose groups had mean worm burdens which were 30 and 42% lower than controls, respectively, although these were not statistically significant. There was little measurable stimulation of the immune system in the vaccinated lambs, suggesting that the repeatedly dosed animals may have developed immunological unresponsiveness to the parasite.