Protection in lambs immunised with Haemonchus contortus gut membrane proteins

Substantial protection against Haemonchus contortus was induced in lambs by hyperimmunising them with an integral membrane extract of intestines dissected from adult worms. The procedure was effective in young growing animals but did not afford any cross protection against either Ostertagia circumcincta or Nematodirus battus. A serum transfer experiment suggested that the effector mechanism was serum antibody which bound to the brush border membrane of the parasites intestinal cells. Sheep which had acquired immunity to H contortus by previous exposure to a trickle infection did not recognise the gut membrane proteins, which suggested that these are normally hidden from the host.