ABSTRACT
To study the histochemical alterations of hookworm L3 administered in a challenge dose to mice vaccinated previously with the larvae. Male Kunming strain mice vaccinated subcutaneously with 500 living Ancylostoma caninum L3 once every 2 weeks for a total of three immunizations before a final challenge with 500 L3 one week after the final immunization. The abdominal skin with underlying subcutaneous tissue and muscle were removed from the site of percutaneous challenge entry (from 2-3 mice), and fixed in absolute alcohol, cold acetone and 10% neutralized formalin. The tissue sections containing the L3 from the challenge dose were then stained histochemically of glycogen, RNA, DNA alkaline protein, acid mucopolysaccharide, collagen, reticulin, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). Skin samples from non-immunized mice that were also subcutaneously inoculated with the L3 served as negative control. The L3 identified in cutaneous sections from vaccinated mice at 6-72 hours post-challenge exhibited reductions in parasite glycogen, alkaline protein, RNA and DNA, as well as reductions in acid mucopolysaccharide, collagen and reticulin contents in the parasite cuticle. There were also reduced enzyme AKP and ATPase activities. In contrast L3, identified in sections from non-immunized mice exhibited a normal histochemical appearance, as did some L3 who survived in vaccinated mice at 7-14 days post-challenge. Vaccination results in hookworm L3 damage which is manifested by reduced histochemical staining for the challenge inoculum of parasites. There is also reduced hydrolytic enzyme activity. The observed changes could reflect either host-mediated parasite structural damage and disintegration or possibly anti-metabolic properties of the host immune response.