ABSTRACT
Local and peripheal eosinophilia is a common feature of many helminth infections that present large, non-phagocytable surfaces to the inmune system. The effect of the eosinophils on these organisms has been studied in the last 18 years using schistosoma mansoni, trichinella spiralis, and other helminths as models. The early infection causes a nonspecific inflammation rich in macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils that sets the stage for a subsequent inmune response. The predominant effector elements of the inmune response are anaphylactic antibodies, mast cells, and eosinophils. Mast cell products attract eosinophils and concentrate antibodies and complement-covered parasites by their Fc and/or C3c receptors and release oxygen radicals and/or preformed proteins on the helmith surface. The radicals alter molecules of the parasite and the proteins disrupt its tegument or cuticle. Occasionally, they may harm host cells. Eosinophils also phagocytize and harm extracellular trypanosoma cruzi and may play a role in the damage to the host heart tissue. The eosinophil response is regulated by eosinophilopoietic factors (interleukines [IL] 3 and 5, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor) eosinophilotactic factors (C5a from complement, eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis [ECF-A], histamine, platelet stimulating factor, and other ECFs from mast cells and basophils, and ECF from parasites), and eosinophiloactivating factors (IL-5 from Th2 lymphocytes, tumor necrosis factor from macrophages, antibodies, and complement components). Other phagocytic cells (macrophages and neutrophils) also exhibit important anti-helminthic activities