Injection of microfilariae induces resistance to Brugia malayi infection in ferrets and accelerates development of lymphostatic disease.

Ferrets injected intravenously with living microfilariae or cutaneously with microfilariae followed by intravenous injection developed partial resistance to a challenge infection as measured by recovery of adult filariae from lymphatics. Following a challenge infection, the ferrets injected with microfilariae developed lymphatic pathology characteristic of a chronic infection or that observed following multiple infections. There was disruption of lymphatic drainage of the infected limb and lymphoedema. The results suggest that immune responses to antigens of microfilariae, presumably antigens shared with other developmental stages, effected both increased resistance and enhanced lymphatic pathology.