Catalase induction protects Haemonchus contortus against hydrogen peroxide in vitro

The response of Haemonchus contortus to oxidative stress in vitro was examined by measuring catalase activities in adult and L4 stage worms exposed to hydrogen peroxide generated by a glucose/glucose oxidase system. Adult nematodes showed increases of up to 2.3-fold in catalase activity after 42 h exposure to the peroxide. L4 nematodes showed up to 4.6-fold induction. A two-stage dose-response was apparent, with catalase activities increasing as the peroxide levels increased, before a return to control levels at higher peroxide concentrations, most likely reflecting a balance between induction and toxicity of the inducing agent itself. Adult nematodes exposed to low levels of peroxide for 24h (hence, having enhanced catalase activities) showed an ability to tolerate subsequent exposure to toxic levels of the peroxide compared to worms with no pre-exposure. An increase of up to approximately threefold in the LC(50) of the hydrogen peroxide generating system was observed after hydrogen peroxide pre-exposure. This indicates that exposure to low oxidant levels lead to an increase in defensive enzyme activities, which allows the nematode to survive subsequent oxidant threats more effectively. The ability of H contortus to increase its catalase activity may be crucial in allowing it to respond to the production of reactive oxygen species by host phagocytes in vivo.