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The Immune Response to Microsporum canis Induced by a Fungal Cell Wall Vaccine *
Author(s) -
DEBOER DOUGLAS J.,
MORIELLO KAREN A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3164.1994.tb00011.x
Subject(s) - microsporum canis , dermatophyte , vaccination , canis , titer , cats , immunity , immune system , antibody titer , cellular immunity , antibody , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , virology , medicine , antifungal , paleontology
Abstract— An experimental infection model was used to assess induction of specific immunity against Microsporum canis in cats with an M. canis cell wall vaccine preparation. Kittens 8–9 weeks old ( n = 12) received five doses of either vaccine or placebo at biweekly intervals. Specific immunity was monitored via plasma anti‐dermatophyte antibody titers and lymphocyte blastogenesis (LB) to dermatophyte antigens. After vaccination, cats were challenged with viable M. canis spores, and lesion development was monitored. Vaccinated cats developed higher anti‐dermatophyte IgG, but not IgM, titers than controls, beginning after the second dose of vaccine ( P < 0.001). During the vaccination period, specific cellular immunity as measured by LB was absent in control cats, but developed to a limited degree in vaccinated cats ( P < 0.05). After challenge with 10 5 fungal spores per cat, both control and vaccinated cats developed active infections. The vaccine appeared to induce an antibody titer quantitatively similar to that produced by infection, but less measured cellular immunity than was seen with infection and recovery. These results suggest that induction of high titers of serum IgG or IgM antibody against Microsporum canis is not protective against challenge exposure.