Immunization against Trichinella spiralis using antigens from different life-cycle stages experimental study in mice

Crude antigen preparations from different life-cycle stages of T. spiralis using 10 micrograms and 100 micrograms antigen/dose, were tested for their ability to immunize mice against homologous challenge infection. Immunization was assessed by accelerated expulsion of adult worms, reduction in female worm fecundity and decreased yield of muscle larvae. The dose of 100 micrograms proved to be more protective in all antigen preparations. The AA provided highly significant protection against adult stages (89%) and muscle larvae (80%). NLA produced highly significant protection against muscle larvae only (76%). MLA provided highly significant protection against adult stages (74%), female fecundity (74%) and muscle larvae (80%). Combination of AA and MLA produced highly significant protection against adult stages (96%), female fecundity (73%) and muscle larvae (86). The results show that all antigen preparations provided variable, considerable but partial protection against challenge infection. The variations in immunization potential are discussed.