The immune response of Trypanosoma gambiense-infected mice to Schistosoma whole worm antigens.

Heterologous humoral and cellular immune response to Schistosoma mansoni and S. bovis antigens were investigated in Tryponosoma gambiense-infected mice in order to understand the concurrent immune response to both parasites. Immune response as measured by the Indirect Haemagglutination Test (IHA), Spontaneous sheep red blood cell rosette formation with B-lymphocytes and the mean number of T-lymphocytes forming rosettes with AET-treated SRBC to the schistosome antigens, was significantly depressed in the trypanosome-infected mice. Furthermore, the timing of trypanosome infection and the inoculation of antigen was related to the degree of immunosuppression as animals which had trypanosome infection and the whole worm antigen of S. mansoni and S. bovis simultaneously had higher IHA titre than those which were inoculated with the antigens 10 days after the commencement of an infection. The results are discussed from the viewpoint of immunological control of schistosomiasis in areas where both diseases are endemic.