Trypanosoma cruzi: partial prevention of the natural infection of guinea pigs with a killed parasite vaccine

Experimental Parasitology
Miguel Ángel Basombrío

Abstract

Guinea pigs are natural reservoirs of Chagas' disease. Domestic breeding and local trade of these animals are common practices among andean communities in South America. Infection by Trypanosoma cruzi occurs when the animals live in triatomine-infested houses or yards. The preventive effect of a vaccine consisting of cultured T. cruzi killed by freezing and thawing plus saponin was tested both in mice and in the guinea pig ecosystem. Resistance against T. cruzi challenge in mice was improved by increasing the trypomastigote/epimastigote ratio in live attenuated vaccines but not in killed parasite vaccines. Although the killing of attenuated parasites sharply reduced their immunogenicity for mice, a protective effect against natural T. cruzi infection was detected in guinea pigs. A total of 88 guinea pigs were vaccinated in four intradermal sites on three occasions. Eighty controls received similar inoculations of culture medium plus saponin. All animals were kept in a triatomine-infested yard. Parasitemia was studied with the capillary microhematocrit method. After an exposure time averaging 4 months, natural T. cruzi infection occurred in 55% (44/80) of the controls and in 33% (29/88) of the vaccinated group (P less than 0.01)...Continue Reading

References

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Aug 1, 1982·Experimental Parasitology·M S Crane, J A Dvorak

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Citations

Oct 17, 2007·Infection and Immunity·M Paola ZagoMiguel A Basombrío
Dec 17, 2014·Expert Review of Vaccines·Fernando J Sánchez-ValdézMiguel Ángel Basombrío
Nov 28, 2015·BMC Veterinary Research·Marc K KouamGeorgios Theodoropoulos
Oct 4, 2015·Parasitology International·Ricardo Castillo-NeyraMichael Z Levy
Nov 4, 2011·Human Vaccines·Israel Quijano-Hernandez, Eric Dumonteil
Jan 9, 2015·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Ricardo Castillo-NeyraMichael Z Levy
Sep 24, 2009·Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz·Cecilia ParodiMiguel Angel Basombrío
Jan 6, 2001·Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz·M A BasombríoM Padilla
Jan 1, 1996·Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz·L E GómezM A Basombrío
Dec 24, 2005·Expert Review of Vaccines·Nisha Garg, Vandanajay Bhatia

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