Analysis of the protective immune response following intramuscular vaccination of calves against the intestinal parasite Cooperia oncophora

Van Meulder F., Ratman D., Van Coppernolle S., Borloo J., Li R.W., Chiers K., Van den Broeck W., Claerebout E., Geldhof P., 2015. Analysis of the protective immune response following intramuscular vaccination of calves against the intestinal parasite Cooperia oncophora.

International Journal for Parasitology 45(9-10), 637-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.03.007

Recently we reported the successful vaccination of calves against the small intestinal parasite Cooperia oncophora with a protein, purified from the adult stage parasites. In an attempt to expose the immune mechanisms involved in vaccine induced protection, immune responses following vaccination were compared between vaccinated calves and non-vaccinated control animals after a challenge infection. Intramuscular injection of the vaccine resulted in an immune response in the calves’ intestines, particularly characterized by increased antibody levels and immune cell (T-cell) responses. Parasite-specific antibodies in the intestinal mucosa were significantly associated with vaccine induced protection.