Attempted immunisation of sheep against Fasciola hepatica using gamma-irradiated metacercariae

The potential of gamma-irradiated Fasciola hepatica metacercariae to vaccinate sheep against fascioliasis was examined. The effect of the size of the inocula of irradiated metacercariae and the level of gamma-irradiation on the recovery of non-irradiated fluke was assessed following homologous challenge. Groups of Merino wethers were vaccinated with a single infection of either 500 or 2000 metacercariae, previously exposed to either 30, 100 or 400 Gy of gamma-irradiation. No significant reduction of fluke burdens were observed in any group, although a nonsignificant 20% reduction was observed in sheep vaccinated with 2000 metacercariae irradiated with 100 Gy. A second trial was conducted in which groups of sheep were vaccinated with 2 doses, given 4 weeks apart, of 2000 metacercariae, previously irradiated at either 70, 100 or 150 Gy. In both trials parasite viability was severely affected by doses of gamma-irradiation of 30 Gy or greater and no mature flukes were recovered from control sheep given metacercariae attenuated with 70 Gy or greater. A strong humoral immune response to somatic F. hepatica antigens was observed in all sheep. Only sera from sheep receiving 70 Gy irradiated metacercariae recognised the 2 candidate liver fluke vaccine molecules, F. hepatica glutathione S-transferase and cathepsin-L proteases. No reduction was observed in either the number of flukes or the production of fluke eggs in any vaccinated group. Vaccination appeared to affect the development of the challenge fluke population, resulting in reduced hepatic damage during migration, as measured by levels of serum glutamate dehydrogenase, and an increase in mean fluke weight.