Contrasting effects of Trichinella spiralis and Trichuris muris antigens on the infection by Leishmania infantum in BALB/c mice

The interaction of Trichinella spiralis and Trichuris muris derived antigens with the infection by Leishmania infantum was investigated in BALB/c mice. Infection with 10(6) promastigotes of L. infantum did not induce relevant serum antibody (IgG subclasses), nor cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-4) responses despite that mice could partially control the infection. Immunization with T,spiralis activated a moderate IgG I and secondarily an IgG2a anti-leishmanial response whereas immunization with T muris elicited only a weak and late activation of IgG I anti-leishmanial response. Immunization with T muris caused an elevation of serum IFN-gamma levels which was drastically reinforced by the L. infantum infection, and that was accompanied by almost complete parasitological cure of infected mice. Immunization with T spiralis induced an elevation of serum IL-4 levels but this response was greatly (about 60%) neutralized by the infection with L. infantum, and this was associated to exacerbation of the infection. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.