Hypersensitivity responses and repeated infections with Lucilia cuprina, the sheep blowfly

Sheep repeatedly infected with L. cuprina at 2- but not 4-week intervals developed partial resistance to infection after five infections, as measured by larval recovery. However, resistance did not persist for more than three infections. Skin weal responses were measured after injection of larval products simultaneously with each infection. The only correlation between weal size and larval recoveries occurred at infection 1 and indicated a relationship between skin sensitivity and innate rather than acquired resistance. The results suggest that resistance to L. cuprina can develop after repeated infections but that it is short lived and requires frequent larval exposure. A role for hypersensitivity responses was not confirmed by the weal responses but was suggested by the size of wound developed per larva recovered.