Free Access
Issue
Vet. Res.
Volume 35, Number 5, September-October 2004
Page(s) 565 - 572
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2004032
How to cite this article Vet. Res. (2004) 565-572
Vet. Res. 35 (2004) 565-572
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2004032

Immunoprotection in goats against Haemonchus contortus after immunization with cysteine protease enriched protein fractions

Antonio Ruiz, José Manuel Molina, Jorge Francisco González, Magnolia María Conde, Sergio Martín and Yeray Isidro Hernández

Department of Animal Pathology (Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontaña s/n, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain

(Received 16 October 2003; accepted 22 March 2004)

Abstract - Haemonchus cysteine proteases, because of their apparent critical function in worm physiology, are considered important candidates in the immunological control of haemonchosis in sheep. Only limited information is, however, available on the immunoprotective properties of these molecules in goats. In the present study cysteine proteases of Haemonchus contortus adult worms isolated from a goat strain (Gran Canaria, Spain) were enriched by affinity chromatography and evaluated as immunoprotective antigens against caprine haemonchosis. The eggs per gram of faeces averaged over the whole experiment for unvaccinated goats (550 ± 13.5) was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than that of vaccinated goats (61 ± 2.9). Accordingly, the worm burden was significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05), with mean values of 247.5 ± 43.8 and 762.5 ± 78.3 worms per animal in the immunized and nonimmunized goats, respectively. The percentage of egg (89%) and worm (68%) reduction approached those attained with other immunogens used in sheep.


Key words: Haemonchus contortus / cysteine proteases / immunoprotection / goats

Corresponding author: Antonio Ruiz aruiz@dpat.ulpgc.es

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2004