The Ig class distribution of anti-phosphoryl choline responses in mice infected with parasitic nematodes.

The anti-phosphoryl choline antibody responses of resistant and susceptible strains of mice infected with microfilariae of Dipetalonema viteae or the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Trichinella spiralis were determined. The responses were characterized both in terms of their kinetics and the constituent role played by each immunoglobulin heavy-chain class. Infection with either parasite elicited detectable responses in all strains investigated. However, the kinetics of the response of each heavy-chain class within each strain could vary independently. Furthermore, differences were observed between the responses of inbred mouse strains that differ in their ability to control infection. It was not possible, however, to correlate these differences in the serological response with the ability of these animals to control infection. The results are discussed in relation to attempts to improve serological diagnostic assays.