Thymic dependence of immunity to Eimeria falciformis var. pragensis in mice. 1979

G M Mesfin, and J E Bellamy

Athymic (nude) mice, their normal littermates, and Swiss white mice were infected with 750 oocysts of Eimeria falciformis var. pragensis and reinfected twice with 20,000 oocysts, 20 and 40 days after the primary infection. The prepatent and patent periods of the primary infection were similar in each group of mice; however, the athymic mice discharged more oocysts. The normal littermates and Swiss white mice developed immunity to the parasite after the first or second infection, whereas the athymic mice never developed immunity. Infection with E. falciformis var. pragensis induced the production of antibodies in the normal littermates and Swiss white mice, whereas antibody production was impaired in athymic mice. Passive administration of immune serum did not protect athymic mice from reinfection by the parasite. Immunity to the parasite was thymus dependent, and "effector" T-lymphocytes seemed to be required for protection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007109 Immunity Nonsusceptibility to the invasive or pathogenic effects of foreign microorganisms or to the toxic effect of antigenic substances. Immune Process,Immune Response,Immune Processes,Immune Responses,Process, Immune,Response, Immune
D007112 Immunity, Maternally-Acquired Resistance to a disease-causing agent induced by the introduction of maternal immunity into the fetus by transplacental transfer or into the neonate through colostrum and milk. Fetal Immunity, Maternally-Acquired,Maternally-Acquired Immunity,Neonatal Immunity, Maternally-Acquired,Immunity, Maternally Acquired,Fetal Immunities, Maternally-Acquired,Fetal Immunity, Maternally Acquired,Immunity, Maternally-Acquired Fetal,Immunity, Maternally-Acquired Neonatal,Maternally Acquired Immunities,Maternally Acquired Immunity,Maternally-Acquired Fetal Immunities,Maternally-Acquired Fetal Immunity,Maternally-Acquired Immunities,Maternally-Acquired Neonatal Immunities,Maternally-Acquired Neonatal Immunity,Neonatal Immunities, Maternally-Acquired,Neonatal Immunity, Maternally Acquired
D008819 Mice, Nude Mutant mice homozygous for the recessive gene "nude" which fail to develop a thymus. They are useful in tumor studies and studies on immune responses. Athymic Mice,Mice, Athymic,Nude Mice,Mouse, Athymic,Mouse, Nude,Athymic Mouse,Nude Mouse
D003048 Coccidiosis Protozoan infection found in animals and man. It is caused by several different genera of COCCIDIA. Besnoitiasis,Besnoitiosis,Besnoitiases,Besnoitioses,Coccidioses
D004539 Eimeria A genus of protozoan parasites of the subclass COCCIDIA. Various species are parasitic in the epithelial cells of the liver and intestines of man and other animals. Eimerias
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000917 Antibody Formation The production of ANTIBODIES by proliferating and differentiated B-LYMPHOCYTES under stimulation by ANTIGENS. Antibody Production,Antibody Response,Antibody Responses,Formation, Antibody,Production, Antibody,Response, Antibody,Responses, Antibody
D013601 T-Lymphocytes Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (T-LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOTOXIC) and helper T-lymphocytes (T-LYMPHOCYTES, HELPER-INDUCER). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the THYMUS GLAND and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen. T Cell,T Lymphocyte,T-Cells,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocytes,Cell, T,Cells, T,Lymphocyte, T,Lymphocyte, Thymus-Dependent,Lymphocytes, T,Lymphocytes, Thymus-Dependent,T Cells,T Lymphocytes,T-Cell,T-Lymphocyte,Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocyte
D013950 Thymus Gland A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat. Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus

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