Correlates of Immune Response in Trichinella spiralis Infection

Trichinella spiralis infection induces Trichinella-specific IgG antibody and high level of blood eosinophil. However, the kinetics induced by different parasite burdens during infectious periods remains unclear. In this study, rats were infected with 100, 1000, or 3000 larvae of T. spiralis (100 TS, 1000 TS, or 3000 TS). Correlates of eosinophils, antibody responses, and Regulated on Activation, Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) with worm burdens were evaluated at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months postinfection. Heavy infections (1000 TS and 3000 TS) showed significantly higher levels of eosinophil, IgG, and IgG1 antibody responses at 2 weeks postinfection compared to light infection (100 TS). The highest RANTES mRNA expression was also found in the heavy infection group (3000 TS). The results indicate, at early stage of infection (week 2), heavy infection induced higher levels of IgG, IgG1, eosinophil, and RANTES responses. However, at late stage of infection (month 2), there were no correlates of immunity with parasite burdens. Higher levels of IgG and IgG1 antibody responses are critical in heavy T. spiralis infection. These results provide important information in evaluating immune responses by T. spiralis infective stage during the T. spiralis infection.