Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168502
Title: CYTOKINE RESPONSES IN THE ABOMASUM OF IMMUNISED AND NON-IMMUNISED CALVES AFTER OSTERTAGIA OSTERTAGI INFECTION

Author
item CLAEREBOUT, EDWIN - GHENT UNIVERSITY
item VERCAUTEREN, C - GHENT UNIVERSITY
item Zarlenga, Dante
item GELDHOF, P - GHENT UNIVERSITY
item OLBRECHTS, A - GHENT UNIVERSITY
item GODDEERIS, B - GHENT UNIVERSITY
item VERCRUYSSE, J - GHENT UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2004
Publication Date: 8/13/2004
Citation: Zarlenga, D.S., Claerebout, E., Vercauteren, C., Geldhof, P., Olbrechts, A., Goddeeris, B., Vercruysse, J. 2004. Cytokine responses in the abomasum of immunised and non-immunised calves after ostertagia ostertagi infection [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Previous studies have shown difficulties to apply the Th1/Th2 paradigm from murine nematode models to Ostertagia ostertagi infections in cattle. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a primary Ostertagia infection of helminth-naive calves or calves that were vaccinated with a protective antigen fraction from adult O. ostertagi, was associated with Th2 type cytokine responses in the abomasum. Upon infection, abomasal lymph nodes and/or abomasal mucosa were collected and messenger RNA for Th1 cytokines (IFN-c, IL-2, IL-12), Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-15) and the Th3/Tr cytokine TGF-c was quantified by real-time RT-PCR. No effect of vaccination was observed on the cytokine profiles in the abomasal lymph nodes or the abomasal mucosa. However, following infection all the calves showed a significant decrease in the Th1 cytokines IL-2 and IL-12 and a significant increase in the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13 in the lymph nodes, compared to non-infected calves. No such Th2 pattern was observed in the mucosa of the infected calves, with both IFN-c and IL-5 mRNA upregulated. There was no significant association between any cytokine and immune effector responses in the abomasal mucosa, such as parasite-specific antibodies and the number of mucosal mast cells or eosinophils. Abomasal lymph node lymphocytes from 3 non-immunised calves infected with a single O. ostertagi infection were stimulated in vitro with Ostertagia L3, L4 or adult extract. Stimulation with L3 or adult extract induced a significant IL-4 and IL-13 response in the lymphocytes, while stimulation with L4 extract was associated with a significant rise in IFN-c mRNA. Taken together these data indicate that infection with O. ostertagi stimulates a Th2 cytokine response in the abomasal lymph nodes, although L4 larvae upregulated IFN-c in vitro. No correlation between the Th2 response and protection induced by vaccination could be demonstrated.