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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
general
In a bovine model of onchocerciasis, protective immunity exists naturally, is absent in drug-cured hosts, and is induced by vaccination
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 103, No. 15, Year 2006
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Description
Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is a major parasitic disease of humans in sub-Saharan Africa caused by the microfilarial stage of the nematode Onchocerca volvulus. Using Onchocerca ochengi, a closely related species which infects cattle and is transmitted by the same black fly vector (Simulium damnosum sensu lato) as O. volvulus, we have conducted longitudinal studies after either natural field exposure or experimental infection to determine whether, and under what circumstances, protective immunity exists in onchocerciasis. On the basis of the adult worm burdens (nodules) observed, we determined that cattle reared in endemic areas without detectable parasites (putatively immune) were significantly less susceptible to heavy field challenge than age-matched, naïve controls (P = 0.002), whereas patently infected cattle, cured of infection by adulticide treatment with melarsomine, were fully susceptible. Cattle immunized with irradiated third-stage larvae were significantly protected against experimental challenge (100% reduction in median nodule load, P = 0.003), and vaccination also conferred resistance to severe and prolonged field challenge (64% reduction in median nodule load, P = 0.053; and a significant reduction in microfilarial positivity rates and density, P < 0.05). These results constitute evidence of protective immunity in a naturally evolved host-Onchocerca sp. relationship and provide proof-of-principle for immunoprophylaxis under experimental and field conditions. © 2006 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA.
Authors & Co-Authors
Tchakouté, Virginia L.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Graham, Simon P.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Jensen, Siv Aina
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Makepeace, Benjamin L.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Nfon, Charles K.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Cameroon, Yaounde
Institut de Recherche Agricole Pour le Développement
Njongmeta, Leo M.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Lustigman, Sara
United States, New York
New York Blood Center
Enyong, Peter Ayuk I.
Cameroon
Tropical Medicine Research Station
Tanya, Vincent Ngwang
Cameroon, Yaounde
Institut de Recherche Agricole Pour le Développement
Bianco, Albert E.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Trees, Alexander J.
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Statistics
Citations: 43
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1073/pnas.0601385103
ISSN:
00278424
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cohort Study