Passive immunization of Naive Mice Using Serum from Mice Vaccinated with irradiated cercariae of Schistosoma Mansoni

ABSTRACT

Serum from mice vaccinated with irradiated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni [20K rad] was administered in different doses and at different time intervals to naive mice. It was found that the level of protection achieved [% immunity] depended on the volume of serum administered and its administration pre and post-challenge with normal cercariae the highest percentage immunity recorded [67-68%] was in group III which had received immune serum 1 hour before and 1 and 48 hours after challenge [1.5 ml]. The lowest percentage immunity was in group IV [17-19%] which had received immune serum 5 and 6 days post- challenge [1 ml] and that indicates that passive immunization acts mainly upon skin stages of the parasite and not lung stages