RESUMO
This study aimed to detect the cellular, humoral immune responses and protection against schistosomes induced by cercarial [CAP], soluble worm [SWAP], soluble egg [SEA], and mixed [SEA + CAP], [SEA + SWAP] and [CAP + SWAP] antigens to Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice, and the improvement in the liver enzyme activities before and after challenge with S. mansoni. Each mouse was sensitized with an initial immunization of 0.6 ml of the extracted antigen [30µg protein/ml]. After one week, a second injection of 0.4 ml was given [20µg protein/ml]. Then, each mouse was exposed to 80 cercariae. Six weeks post challenge the protection percentage was 42.5, 58.33, 53.33, 60.91, 78.16 and 64.77% for CAP, SEA, SWAP, [SEA +CAP], [SEA+SWAP] and [CAP + SWAP], respectively. The results revealed a high significant interrelation between number of lymph node cells [MLN] [P = 0.001], splenocytes [P = 0.04] and thymocytes [P = 0.001] that obtained with each immunized group compared to controls. A high significant difference [P = 0.001] between levels of IgG obtained between different antigen groups and the control before and after challenge. The immunization with previous antigens resulted in a remarkable improvement in the liver enzyme activities, which were disturbed after infection. Thus, vaccination of mice with the previous different antigens has an immunoprophylactic effect and may protect liver against infection through reduction in worm burden leading to the improvement of many liver enzymes
RESUMO
A new species of the genus Neyraia joyeux et Timon-David, 1934 is described from Egyptian wild birds, Neyraia epops from the hoopoe Upupa epops. The new species is compared with the other related species of the genus. The erection of the new species was based primarily on differences in the number of testes and number of the rostellar hooks