[Cytomorphological and biochemical characteristics of the whitefish, Baikal omul Coregonus migratorius, infected by plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidae)]

The cytomorphological and biochemical composition of the blood has been studied for the deep-dwelling (bottom) morphotype of the Baikal omul infected by plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum, during the fish spawning migration. A decrease in hemoglobin synthesis and an increase in the proliferative activity of erythroid cells have been registered. The changes in the leukocyte population composition, immunoglobulin, and total protein concentrations evidenced a disorder of blood cell proliferation and differentiation and suppression of the immune response in the infected fish. The changes in the humoral and cell factors of homeostasis in Coregonus migratorius infected by D. dendriticum during the spawning period remain within the limits of the adaptive possibilities of the species.

[Morphofunctional characteristics of thymus and immunological parameters in golden hamster under experimental invasion with the cestode Diphyllobothrium dendriticum]

Morphofunctional changes induced by the tapeworm in the thymus and blood of its definitive host, by an example of the experimental model "Diphyllobothrium dendriticum--Mesocricetus auratus", have been investigated. The morphofunctional changes in the thymus and immunological transformations in the organism of infested hamster are evidences of rather high immunogenic effect of the D. dendriticum antigens on the definitive host at the period of active growth of the parasites.

[The reaction of the bursa and thymus eosinophils in the herring gull after the experimental infection with gull-tapeworm]

Using the methods of light microscopy, eosinophil topography, quantitative and qualitative changes (degranulation level of and a cationic protein content) were studied in the thymus and bursa of 36 herring gull nestlings Larus argentatus mongolicus (Suskin, 1925) 2 weeks after experimental infestation with gull-tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitsch, 1824). Eosinophils in the thymus were located in trabecules, mainly close to the blood vessels, thymic (Hassall's) corpuscles and also directly inside them, while in the bursa they were found within the internodular space. As compared with the control bird counts, relative eosinophil count in the birds with an average invasion intensity was increased 3.8 times in the thymus and 2.5 times in the bursa. In birds with high invasion intensity, these counts were increased 4 times in the thymus and 1.2 times in the bursa.

[Changes in mast cell composition in the hamster duodenum in experimental diphyllobothriosis]

The morphometric investigation was performed to study the reaction of mast cells (MC) in mucosal lamina propria of hamster duodenum to experimental infection with tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum. The invasion was found to result in a significant increase of MC cells absolute content, changes in the proportions of their functional groups, increased anaphylactic MC degranulation, enhanced MC precursor migration and their accelerated differentiation.

Selected pathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural changes associated with an infection by Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824) (Cestoda) plerocercoids in Coregonus lavaretus (L.) (Coregonidae)

The pathological changes induced by an infection of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824) plerocercoids in powan, Coregonus lavaretus (L.), from Loch Lomond, Scotland, were assessed using immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques. In a sample of 26 powan, the occurrence of encysted plerocercoids of D. dendriticum on the outer surface of the stomach was 38.5% (n = 10) with the number of cysts ranging from 4 to 15 and measuring 4.2 +/- 1.0 mm x 3.4 +/- 0.9 mm (mean +/- SD). Histological examination of intestinal samples also revealed plerocercoids (2-21) encapsulated within a proliferation of mesenteric fibrous tissues of the gastric wall and, occasionally, by the gut lamina propria-submucosa and lamina muscularis. In section, cysts were tri-layered and were formed from a series of concentric whorls of fibroblast and collagen fibre-based connective elements. The extent of necrosis within each muscle layer and the serosa of the stomach differed, notably within the latter that was marked by a chronic inflammatory reaction and fibrosis. Within the cyst and around it, a large number of degranulating mast cell/eosinophilic granule cells were seen, in addition to melano-macrophage centres. Immunohistochemical staining of sections of infected stomach revealed a high density of elements, in close proximity to plerocercoids, staining positive for serotonin, bombesin, substance P and galanin. Uninfected material did not present the same levels of activity. Sections through both infected and uninfected tissue were also tested for elements containing vasoactive intestinal peptide, met-enkephalin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, neuropeptide Y and nitric oxide synthase, but these were absent.

[Hematological and immunological properties of herring gull (Larus argentatus) nestlings experimentally infected with Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidae)]

The morphological structure of the blood in herring gull nestlings and their immune system response to experimental infection with tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum have been studied. The leukocyte reaction pattern and the dynamics of immunoglobulin synthesis and populations of immunocompetent cells in the blood of nestlings during early invasion indicated a short duration of the cellular immune response and an insignificant humoral immune response. A pronounced trend to decrease in the hemoglobin level in the blood of infected nestlings has been revealed and this reduction was in part compensated by intensified erythropoiesis. It is shown, that the changes in hematologic and immune responses of the obligate definitive host provide for the mutual host-parasite adaptation.

Modulation of granulocyte responses in three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus infected with the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus

Leukocytes isolated from the head kidney and peripheral blood of 3-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus L. were analysed by means of flow cytometry during infection with the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus (Müller, 1776). Although parasites increased their body weight continuously throughout the observation period (98 d), proportions of granulocytes increased in blood and head kidney only up to Day 63 post-infection (p.i.). Thereafter, declining proportions of granulocytes were observed in both organs. Thus the relative decrease in granulocyte number was not correlated to a decline in the parasitic load of the fish. To investigate a possible modulatory impact of S. solidus on granulocyte function, head kidney leukocytes were isolated at times before Day 63 p.i. and tested in vitro for their capacity to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Head kidney leukocytes from S. solidus-infected fish, analysed immediately after isolation (ex vivo, Day 40 p.i.), exhibited a higher ROS production when stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), than leukocytes from naive, sham-treated control fish and fish that had resisted or cleared the infection (exposed but not infected). The latter showed an increased spontaneous ROS production that was not correlated to the numbers of granulocytes present in the head kidney isolates. In infected sticklebacks, spontaneous and PMA-induced ROS production was significantly correlated with numbers of granulocytes present in the head kidney isolates, suggesting that elevated ROS production was due to higher numbers of responding cells rather than an increased capacity of single cells. In vitro, after cultivation for 4 d in the presence of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or extracts from S. solidus, head kidney leukocytes from control fish showed an increased ROS production and phagocytic activity compared with non-stimulated control cultures. In contrast, head kidney leukocytes from infected fish isolated on Days 48 and 44 p.i., failed to respond to S. solidus antigens in vitro. During S. solidus infection, granulocyte mobilisation resulted in elevated numbers of these cells in head kidneys, but the lack of an in vitro response to S. solidus antigens indicates an in vivo priming of granulocytes by the parasite. These observations may reflect the ability of S. solidus to impair the host's immune response once the parasite is developing in the body cavity of G. aculeatus.

Sequential development of the immune response in rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)] to experimental plerocercoid infections of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824)

Development of the inflammatory response of rainbow trout to experimental infections with Diphyllobothrium dendriticum plerocercoids is described using light and electron microscopy. The cellular response to plerocercoids occurred within 2 weeks post-infection (p.i.). This was followed by an increase in leucocyte numbers during weeks 3-6 p.i., with full encapsulation of plerocercoids by week 6 p.i. Neutrophils were the first leucocytes to engage the developing plerocercoid, followed by large influxes of macrophages which transformed into epithelioid cells. With longer times p.i. the accumulation of different leucocyte types increased, and a blood vascular network developed. Full development of the composite cyst was characterized by fibroplasia, particularly at the periphery of the cyst, and the subsequent deposition of a collagenous tissue matrix. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) examination of serum samples taken over the 20 week period showed that specific anti-D. dendriticum antibody titres were first detected at 5 weeks p.i. and increased to a maximum by 11 weeks p.i.

Immunological aspects associated with suppression of hormone levels in rats infected with plerocercoids of Spirometra mansonoides (Cestoda)

The effect of the plerocercoid larvae of Spirometra mansonoides on hormone levels and the immune system of intact and hypophysectomized (Hx) rats was studied. Intact rats exhibited a decrease in serum growth hormone (GH) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations and a suppression of the humoral immune response 2 wk postinfection. At 4 and 9 wk postinfection, hormone concentrations and the humoral immune response returned to normal levels in the rats. When rats were infected with plerocercoids and then received daily injections for 2 wk of either GH or T4, the immune response returned to normal in the T4-injected, but not the GH-injected animals. Plerocercoid infection had no effect on the humoral immune response of Hx rats. The results of the present study suggest that PGF may act via an endocrine pathway to suppress the host's immune response enabling the parasite's survival in this host.