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Some cutaneous responses to mitogen injection in sheep, with special reference to eosinophil leucocytes
T L Rothwell1, R G Windon, B A Horsburgh
1Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
This study introduces a practical method to measure sheep's eosinophil response, a key indicator of their inherent resistance to parasite infections. This technique aids in understanding the link between immune response and parasite resistance.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Immunology
- Parasitology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Eosinophils play a role in cutaneous reactions and may indicate resistance to parasite infection in laboratory animals.
- Assessing individual sheep's resistance to parasites is crucial for effective flock management and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a practical and reproducible method for comparing the eosinophil response in individual sheep.
- To investigate the relationship between the eosinophil response and parasite resistance in sheep.
Main Methods:
- Intradermal injection of 10 micrograms of phytohaemagglutinin (a mitogen) in sheep.
- Biopsies of deep dermis were collected 24 hours post-injection.
- Eosinophil counts were performed on the skin biopsies to quantify the immune response.
Main Results:
- The phytohaemagglutinin skin test provides a practical and reproducible measure of eosinophil recruitment in sheep dermis.
- This method allows for the comparison of individual sheep's ability to mobilize eosinophils.
Conclusions:
- The described method is a viable tool for assessing eosinophil-mediated immune responses in sheep.
- This technique facilitates future studies on the correlation between eosinophil response and parasite resistance in sheep.
Abstract:
Research in laboratory animals suggests that eosinophil numbers in some cutaneous reactions may reveal inherent differences in resistance to parasite infection. An intradermal injection with 10 microgram of the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin, followed by counting eosinophils in the deep dermis of skin biopsies removed 24 hours later, appears to be a practical and reproducible way of comparing the ability of individual sheep to marshal eosinophils in a tissue. This procedure will allow study of the relationship between eosinophil response and resistance to parasite infection in sheep.
