Lymphocyte and cytokine responses of young cattle during primary infection with Fasciola hepatica.

An experiment was designed to characterise the early immune responses of cattle given a trickle infection of the trematode Fasciola hepatica. Lymphocyte responses and IFNgamma production following stimulation with Fasciola antigens were measured. Animals were sequentially slaughtered at weeks 5, 7, 9 and 11 post-infection. Results demonstrated responses to fluke antigens and cytokine production (IFNgamma) from weeks 2-5 post-infection. These findings may suggest an early stimulation of IFNgamma production by peripheral blood lymphocytes following infection with F hepatica in cattle.