IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF MAMMALIAN HOST AGAINST TAPEWORM INFECTIONS .9. TRANSFER VIA COLOSTRUM OF IMMUNITY TO TAENIA HYDATIGENA

Lambs born of dams naturally immunized against at least one species of larval cestode and of similar naturally immunized dams, which had been artificially hypersensitized by the injection of activated embryos of T. hydatigena before parturition, were allowed to suckle for 3 days. At specific intervals after birth, the lambs were fed per os with eggs of T. hydatigena. The number of embryos which developed into cysts and the proportion of these which survived for 3 months were determined at autopsy. These data were compared with those from similarly treated lambs deprived of colostrum. No evidence was found that immunity was transferred via colostrum from naturally immunized ewes to their lambs. However, after hypersensitization of naturally immunized ewes, some protection was provided for lambs for up to 1 but not for 3 months. The transferred antibody reduced the number of embryos which developed into cysts, but had no effect on the survival of these cysts. © 1969.