Abstract
To study the immune response to coccidiosis, the suckling rabbits were inoculated with 2,000 oocysts of either Eimeria intestinalis or Eimeria flavescens at 19, 22, 25, 29, and 33 days of age (DA) and in the case of E. intestinalis at 14 and 16 DA as well and sacrificed 14 days later. Another group served as an uninfected control and the rabbits were killed at the same age as their infected counterparts. Unlike the antibody response, the parameters reflecting cellular immunity (total number of leukocytes in mesenteric lymph nodes, lymphocyte proliferation upon stimulation with specific antigen and the dynamics of CD4+ and CD8+ cell proportions in the intestinal epithelium at the specific site of parasite development) were significantly changed from about 25 DA onwards. In contrast to the rabbits infected with weakly immunogenic coccidium E. flavescens, the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in intraepithelial lymphocytes from the specific site of parasite development were considerably changed after infection with highly immunogenic species E. intestinalis. As the immune system of sucklings from about 25 DA reacts to the infection, this age may be considered in terms of vaccination against coccidiosis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bangoura B, Daugschies A (2007) Parasitological and clinical parameters of experimental Eimeria zuernii infection in calves and influence on weight gain and haematogram. Parasitol Res 100:1331–1340
Cornelissen AWCA, Verstegen R, Vandenbrand H, Perie NM, Eysker M, Lam TJGM, Pijpers A (1995) An observational study of Eimeria species in housed cattle on Dutch dairy farms. Vet Parasitol 56:7–16
Coudert P, Naciri M, Drouet-Viard F, Licois D (1991) Mammalian coccidiosis: natural resistance of suckling rabbits. In: 2nd Conference COST-Action 1989, Münchenwiler
Coudert P, Licois D, Provôt F, Drouet-Viard F (1993) Eimeria sp. from rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): pathogenicity and immunogenicity of Eimeria intestinalis. Parasitol Res 79:186–190
Coudert P, Licois D, Drouet-Viard F (1995) Eimeria species and strains of the rabbits. In: Eckert J, Braun R, Shirley MW, Coudert P (eds) Guidelines on techniques in coccidiosis research. European Commission, Directorate-General XII, Science, Research and Development Environment Research Programme, Brussels, pp 52–71
Davis LR, Boughton CD, Bowman GW (1955) Biology and pathogenicity of Eimeria alabamensis, Christenson, 1941, an intranuclear coccidium of cattle. Am J Vet Res 16:274–281
Drouet-Viard F, Coudert P, Licois D, Boivin M (1997) Acquired protection of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) against coccidiosis using a precocious line of Eimeria magna: effect of vaccine dose and age at vaccination. Vet Parasitol 69:197–201
Dürr U, Pellérdy L (1969) The susceptibility of suckling rabbits to infection with coccidia. Acta Vet Acad Sci Hung 19:453–462
Koudela B, Boková A (1998) Coccidiosis in goats in the Czech Republic. Vet Parasitol 76:261–267
Koudela B, Kučerová Š (1999) Role of acquired immunity and natural age resistance on course of Isospora suis coccidiosis in nursing piglets. Vet Parasitol 82:93–99
Licois D, Coudert P, Boivin M, Drouet-Viard F, Provôt F (1990) Selection and characterization of a precocious line of Eimeria intestinalis, an intestinal rabbit coccidium. Parasitol Res 76:192–198
Licois D, Coudert P, Drouet-Viard F, Boivin M (1994) Eimeria media: selection and characterization of a precocious line. Parasitol Res 80:48–52
Licois D, Coudert P, Drouet-Viard F, Boivin M (1995) Eimeria magna: pathogenicity, immunogenicity and selection of a precocious line. Vet Parasitol 60:27–35
Mage RG (1998a) Immunology of lagomorphs. In: Pastoret PP, Bazin H, Griebel P, Govaerts AS (eds) Handbook of vertebrate immunology. Academic, London, pp 223–260
Mage RG (1998b) Diversification of rabbit VH genes by gene-conversion-like hypermutation mechanisms. Immunol Rev 162:49–54
Miyamoto T, Min WG, Lillehoj HS (2002) Lymphocyte proliferation response during Eimeria tenella infection assessed by a new, reliable, nonradioactive colorimetric assay. Avian Dis 46:10–16
Mundt HC, Cohnen A, Daugschies A, Joachim A, Prosl H, Schmaschke R, Westphal B (2005) Occurrence of Isospora suis in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. J Vet Med B 52:93–97
Niestrath M, Takla M, Joachim A, Daugschies A (2002) The role of Isospora suis as a pathogen in conventional piglet production in Germany. J Vet Med B 49:176–180
Norton CC, Catchpole J, Joyner LP (1979) Redescriptions of Eimeria irresidua Kessel & Jankiewicz, 1931 and E. flavescens Marotel & Guilhon, 1941 from the domestic rabbit. Parasitology 79:231–248
Pakandl M (2005) Selection of a precocious line of the rabbit coccidium Eimeria flavescens Marotel and Guilhon (1941) and characterisation of its endogenous cycle. Parasitol Res 97:150–155
Pakandl M, Jelínková A (2006) The rabbit coccidium Eimeria piriformis: selection of a precocious line and life-cycle study. Vet Parasitol 137:351–354
Pakandl M, Hlásková L (2007) The reproduction of Eimeria flavescens and Eimeria intestinalis in suckling rabbits. Parasitol Res 101:1435–1437
Pakandl M, Černík F, Coudert P (2003) The rabbit coccidium Eimeria flavescens Marotel and Guilhon, 1941: an electron microscopic study of its life cycle. Parasitol Res 91:304–311
Pakandl M, Sewald B, Drouet-Viard F (2006) Invasion of the intestinal tract by sporozoites of Eimeria coecicola and Eimeria intestinalis in naive and immune rabbits. Parasitol Res 98:310–316
Pakandl M, Hlásková L, Poplštein M, Nevečeřalová M, Vodička T, Salát J, Mucksová J (2008) Immune response to rabbit coccidiosis: a comparison between infections with Eimeria flavescens and E. intestinalis. Folia Parasitol 55:1–6
Renaux S, Quéré P, Buzoni-Gatel D, Sewald B, Le Vern Y, Coudert P, Drouet-Viard F (2003) Dynamics and responsiveness of T-lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs of rabbits developing immunity to Eimeria intestinalis. Vet Parasitol 110:181–195
Rose ME (1973) Immunity. In: Hammond DM, Long PL (eds) The coccidia. University Park Press, Baltimore, pp 295–241
Sehgal D, Schiaffella E, Anderson AO, Mage RG (1998) Analyses of single B cells by polymerase chain reaction reveal rearranged VH with germ line sequences in spleens of immunized adult rabbits: implications for B cell repertoire maintenance and renewal. J Immunol 161:5347–5356
Stuart BP, Gosser HS, Allen CB, Bedell DM (1982) Coccidiosis in swine: dose and age response to Isospora suis. Can J Comp Med 46:317–320
Todd D, Singh AJ, Greiner DL, Mordes JP, Rossini AA, Bortell R (1999) A new isolation method for rat intraepithelial lymphocytes. J Immunol Methods 224:111–127
Weinstein PD, Anderson AO, Mage RG (1994) Rabbit IgH sequences in appendix germinal centers: VH diversification by gene conversion-like and hypermutation mechanism. Immunity 1:647–659
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a grant of the Czech Science Foundation (grant no. 524/05/2328) and the Biology Center ASCR, Institute of Parasitology (Z60220518). We thank Mrs. Marie Kreimová for technical assistance. The experiments comply with the current laws of the Czech Republic (the law CNR No. 246/1992 for the protection of animals against cruelty).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pakandl, M., Hlásková, L., Poplštein, M. et al. Dependence of the immune response to coccidiosis on the age of rabbit suckling. Parasitol Res 103, 1265–1271 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1123-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1123-0