Dr. Murai Éva - Gubányi András szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 31. (Budapest, 1998)

The MIT was used for monitoring the cell-mediated response. Following incubation of the immunocompetent cells in the presence and absence of the antigenic fractions, it was observed that on the 4th-8th days of the prepatent period monocyte/macrophages reacted with Fl and F6 resulting in inhibition of migration of cells from the capillaries. The reaction of the cells with F3 was moderate as observed by mild inhibition of the migration of cells from the capillary tube, while F2, F4, and F5 did not show any reactivity, and no inhibition of cell migration was observed (Table 1). With PI day 16 cells the Fl and F6 showed similar response as observed on the 8th day while the inhibition with F3 and F2 fractions, respectively, recorded on the 8-16th and 24th day only, disappeared thereafter. Table 1 The macrophage migration inhibition response to different antigen fractions of protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus Antigens Fl F F3 F4 F5 F6 H Macrophages (Mr 90 kD) (Mr 64.5 kD) (Mr 54 kD) (Mr 34 kD) (Mr 25 kD) (Mr 17 kD) 4 days _ 8 days + - + + 16 days + - + + 24 days +++ + + + 32 days „ + - + 40 days - - - No inhibition, + Mild inhibition, ++ Strong inhibition, +++ Very strong inhibition The antigens of Fl, F2 and F6 reacted with the PI day 24 cells. The cells from PI day 32 reacted only with Fl and gave a moderate response. With the PI day 40 cells the MIT failed to detect responsiveness with any of the antigens. It was observed that the six fractions tested are not equally antigenic. Of the fractions Fl seems to be the most immunoreactive antigen, followed by F6. However the antigenic response of F6 disappears in the later phase of the prepatent period. With the Fl fraction the CMI response was detected as early as the 4th day, and persisted up to 32 days of the prepatent period, suggesting that Fl has greater antigenic potential than the other fractions. The area of migration of the cells was also calculated, and it was found that the maximum inhibition of cell migration from the capillary was 73% on the 24th day of the prepatent period (Fig. 2). It is seen in Fig. 2 that the percent inhibition of macrophage migration increased up to PI day 24 and thereafter a sharp decline was noticed. It can be seen from the results of dot blot analysis presented in Fig. 3, that as early as on PI day 4 noticeable IgG response was detected with the Fl, F2, F6 fractions, increasing in strength with the increase in the age of infection. A very weak response of F3 was also noticed from PI day 8 which persisted up to PI day 40, while F4 and F5 showed inconsistent responses. Fl, F2 and F6 appear to have the most powerful antigenic potential as they reacted throughout the prepatent period (Fig. 3).