Transfer of infection-induced immune protection to Toxocara canis in a mouse model.

Groups of mice were vaccinated twice with soluble extracts of embryonated eggs, females or males of Toxocara canis, or horse serum, and infected with 2,000 homologous embryonated eggs. Recovery of larvae on the fifth day by digestion of mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lung, brain, and carcass revealed a slight but nonsignificant protection elicited by the parasite materials. Other groups were immunized by homologous infections. A single, 200-day-old infection increased importantly the number of larvae resulting from a challenge, possibly by inducing an immunosuppression in the host. Two infections given within 11 months protected partially against the larvae of a challenge, particularly by trapping the parasites in the liver. Transfer of mesenteric lymph node cells from twice infected mice reduced the total number of parasites, and the liver and lung parasitism of a challenge in the recipients, whereas transfer of serum decreased the total number of parasites and the brain and carcass parasitism. The combination of cells and serum acted synergistically in lungs and brain but antagonistically in liver and carcass.