A mucosal IgA response, but no systemic antibody response, is evoked by intranasal immunisation of dogs with Echinococcus granulosus surface antigens iscoms

The search for protective antigens of intestinal parasites is conditioned by the methodology used to induce a relevant local immune response against them. The present work describes the use of immuno stimulating complexes (iscoms) from tegumental antigens from protoscoleces (PSC) of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus as immunogens in dogs by the intranasal route. It also describes the evaluation of the immune response evoked at the antibody level (systemically and at a distant mucosal location) as well as at the level of antibody secreting cells in peripheral blood. Iscoms from both E. granulosus tegumental antigens and hen ovalbumin (OVA), given at 50 μg doses by intranasal route, evoked significant secretory IgA antibody responses detected in saliva. Specific IgA secreting cells in peripheral blood also increased 10–20-fold, although transiently, after primary and secondary stimulation, whereas specific IgG secreting cells in peripheral blood were only detected in some individuals after the second antigenic exposure. Generation of immune responses at a related mucosal site provides evidence of localised immunity. No significant increase in systemic antibody titers of either IgM, IgG or IgA isotype was detected in plasma as a result of the immunisation. This fact could reflect that the nasopharyngeal mucosal associated lymphoid tissue of dogs is more strictly compartmentalised than that of other mammals.