Changes in the haemolytic activity of bovine serum complement by Hypoderma lineatum (insect oestridae) larval proteinases in naive and immune cattle.

Three serine proteinases (hypodermin A, B and C) of the first instar larvae of Hypoderma lineatum have been assayed for their ability to deplete seric complement of naive or immune cattle. In naive cattle complement consumption is initiated by hypodermin B through the sequence C1-C3 at a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml of serum, and by hypodermin A through the sequence of C3-C9 at a higher concentration of 150 micrograms. The third enzyme presenting a collagenolytic activity has no anti-complementary activity even on C1q. In immune cattle a 70% complement depletion through the classical pathway is observed with 15 micrograms of hypodermin B per ml of serum. The two enzymes A and C appear to play a minor role in the complement depletion via the classical pathway. The biological role of each of these enzymes in the parasite-host interrelationships is discussed. The participation of these enzymes in the immediate hypersensitive reactions following systemic treatment of cattle infested by this endoparasite is considered.