A humoral immune response following helminth infection in pigs is well documented. However, it has
been difficult to confirm the existence of antibody mediated resistance against the large roundworm,
Ascaris suum, and whipworm, Trichuris suis, in experimental settings by correlating worm burdens or egg
excretion with specific antibody levels. We set out to investigate the association between worm load
and T. suis and A. suum specific serum antibody levels (IgG1, IgG2 and IgA) against excretory-secretory
products of adults and third stage larvae, respectively, measured at 0, 7 and 14 weeks p.i. in a trickleinfected
F1-resource-population of crossbred pigs (n = 195). Furthermore, we wanted to determine the
heritability of these antibody isotypes during the course of infection. Most pigs remained infected with A.
suum throughout the experiment while they expelled T. suis between 7 and 14 weeks post infection (p.i.).
Parasite specific IgG1 and IgA were significantly (P < 0.001) elevated after 7 and 14 weeks of infection,
whereas parasite specific IgG2 levels only changed slightly at 14 weeks p.i.. However, the observed association
between specific antibody isotype levels and faecal egg counts and macroscopic worm load was
weak. The relative heritabilities of the different parasite specific isotypes were assessed and resulted in
significant heritability estimates for parasite specific IgG1 and IgA. The highest heritabilities were found
for A. suum specific IgG1 (h2 = 0.41 and 0.46 at 7 and 14 weeks p.i., respectively). Thus, the present study
demonstrates that host genetic factors influence the IgG1 and IgA antibody isotype responses specific
to two of the most common gastrointestinal nematodes of swine whereas specific antibody levels were
poorly associated with egg excretion and the presence of macroscopic worms.
A humoral immune response following helminth infection in pigs is well documented. However, it hasbeen difficult to confirm the existence of antibody mediated resistance against the large roundworm,Ascaris suum, and whipworm, Trichuris suis, in experimental settings by correlating worm burdens or eggexcretion with specific antibody levels. We set out to investigate the association between worm loadand T. suis and A. suum specific serum antibody levels (IgG1, IgG2 and IgA) against excretory-secretoryproducts of adults and third stage larvae, respectively, measured at 0, 7 and 14 weeks p.i. in a trickleinfectedF1-resource-population of crossbred pigs (n = 195). Furthermore, we wanted to determine theheritability of these antibody isotypes during the course of infection. Most pigs remained infected with A.suum throughout the experiment while they expelled T. suis between 7 and 14 weeks post infection (p.i.).Parasite specific IgG1 and IgA were significantly (P < 0.001) elevated after 7 and 14 weeks of infection,whereas parasite specific IgG2 levels only changed slightly at 14 weeks p.i.. However, the observed associationbetween specific antibody isotype levels and faecal egg counts and macroscopic worm load wasweak. The relative heritabilities of the different parasite specific isotypes were assessed and resulted insignificant heritability estimates for parasite specific IgG1 and IgA. The highest heritabilities were foundfor A. suum specific IgG1 (h2 = 0.41 and 0.46 at 7 and 14 weeks p.i., respectively). Thus, the present studydemonstrates that host genetic factors influence the IgG1 and IgA antibody isotype responses specificto two of the most common gastrointestinal nematodes of swine whereas specific antibody levels werepoorly associated with egg excretion and the presence of macroscopic worms.
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