Regulatory effect of anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody on intestinal worm burden in a primary infection with strongyloides venezuelensis in mice.

The intestinal worm burden in Strongyloides venezuelensis-infected mice was influenced by treatment with anti-interleukin-5 (IL-5) monoclonal antibody (NC17) when NC17 was given to mice 3-7 days before infection. The present study has examined the involvement of IL-5 in susceptibility at different in the development of the parasite in the host. The results show that the number of tissue-migrating larvae recovered from the lungs in a primary infection was not affected by anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody treatment, whereas intestinal worm counts increased in mice treated with 0.25-1 mg of NC17. In mice treated with 0.1 mg of NC17, adult worm recovery was not significantly different from non-treated controls. Peripheral and tissue eosinophilia were not observed in the early phase of infection (days 4-8). Six days after transfer of lung-stage larvae to NC17-treated mice, adult worm recovery was higher than that of control mice. These results suggest that non-eosinophil response(s), which were dependent on IL-5, were involved in the initial establishment of the intestinal stage of S. venezuelensis in mice. We discuss the mechanisms that control the susceptibility to the parasite from the viewpoint of host defence.