Infectivity, antigenicity and host responses to isolates of the genus Trichinella

Comparisons were made of the infectivity and antigenicity of 4 Trichinella spiralis isolates (S, D, Y, W), of quite different geographical origins, and T. pseudospiralis (P) in rapid- and slow-responder inbred mice. Infectivity was measured by the Index of Reproductive Capacity (ICR) expressed as the ratio between the number of muscle larvae recovered on day 30 post-infection (p.i.) and the numbers of larvae given at infection. Antigen recognition was measured by the degree of proliferation of mesenteric lymph node cells (MLNC) to in vitro stimulation with crude muscle larvae antigen (CMLA) and by the total antibody responses to CMLA at day 25 p.i. as measured by ELISA. Regarding infectivity the isolates fell into two groups, high infectivity (S, D and Y) and low infectivity (W and P). Analysis of CMLA, detergent-stripped (CTAB) and 125I-labelled surface larval proteins was made by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Differences in antigen profiles were seen in all antigen preparations, being most noticeable in CTAB and 125I-labelled proteins from W and P isolates. Antigen recognition by polyclonal infection-derived antisera and by monoclonal antibodies raised against the T. spiralis London strain (L) was studied in the W (Arctic) and S (Spanish) isolates. Polyclonal antisera recognized different antigens in the S and W isolates, as did the monoclonal antibody, although recognition was more restricted. Neither antibody recognized a 64 kDa band in the W isolate which was clearly visible in the others tested.