Premium
Vaccination against cestode parasites
Author(s) -
LIGHTOWLERS MARSHALL W.,
RICKARD MICHAEL D.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1993.50
Subject(s) - metacestode , biology , immunization , taenia , vaccination , immunity , taeniasis , cysticercosis , echinococcus granulosus , intermediate host , parasite hosting , virology , echinococcosis , helminths , helminthiasis , cestoda , immunology , host (biology) , antigen , immune system , cestode infections , zoology , ecology , world wide web , computer science
Summary Cestodes are tapeworm parasites. Infection in the intermediate host with larval (metacestode) parasites causes medically and economically important diseases known as hydatidosis and cysticercosis. Immunization against experimental infection with metacestode parasites has been highly successful, in marked contrast with the relative ineffectiveness of vaccines against infection with most parasitic organisms. High levels of immunity against a challenge infection with taeniid cestode eggs can be stimulated by immunization with extracts of the parasites, particularly with extracts of the oncosphere life‐cycle stage. This led to the production of a recombinant antigen vaccine against infection in sheep with the parasite Taenia ovis , the first highly effective, non‐living vaccine against a parasitic infection in animals or humans. This paper reviews immunity to the adult and metacestode life‐cycle stages of cestode parasites, development and application of the T. ovis vaccine, and prospects for vaccines against other cestode infections.