Antibody-mediated response in dogs experimentally infected with Toxocara canis:: effect of procodazole

Procodazole (1H-benzimidazole-2-propanoic acid) is an immunomodulator that increases disease resistance. A Study to evaluate the effect of procodazole on the antibody-mediated response Was carried out in puppies infected with Toxocara canis embryonated eggs. The antibody response (antibody activity in association with IgG and with the IgG1 and IgG2 isotypes) against T. canis was established by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and crude antigen. One group of dogs was previously treated with procodazole (G-E), prior to and after the infection. Another infected group remained without treatment (G-I), and one group of non-treated and non-infected animals was left as control (G-C). Animals of G-E and G-I remained infected throughout 14 Weeks, when all infected animals received piperazine. Procodazole reduced significantly the number of worms recovered in G-E and delayed spontaneous worm elimination. Total IgG response was higher in G-E than that of G-I. whereas IgG1 and IgG2 levels were lower than that of G-I. A dichotomous IgG1/IgG2 response was observed in the two infected groups: first, secretion of IgG2 was Stimulated, but when infection progressed this response decreased and IgG I levels increased.