VACCINATION OF PATAS MONKEYS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH SCHISTOSOMA-HAEMATOBIUM USING A RECOMBINANT GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE CLONED FROM SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI

The capacity of a recombinant glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma mansoni (rSm28GST) to vaccinate primates (Erythrocebus patas) against a heterologous infection with Schistosoma haematobium has been tested Two injections of the purified molecule with Muramyl-Di-Peptide (MDP) as adjuvant resulted in a high level antibody response in the five immunized animals and in a significant reduction in worm fecundity compared to the controls which received adjuvant alone. Mean levels of daily egg excretion in urine and faeces were reduced by respectively 55% and 74% although perfusion revealed that worm burdens were similar in both groups. The protective effect was long lasting since it was maintained up to the end of the experiment, 42 weeks after infection. Hatching rates and the numbers of intra-uterine eggs were also significantly affected by the vaccination. Tissue eggs were also drastically diminished in the urogenital system (-80%) but the reduction was not statistically significant. One animal was not protected by the immunization. There was a good correlation between parasitological data and the intensify of bladder lesions assessed by microscopic examination. Polypoid formations together with an intense exudation of the lamina propria were frequently seen in the controls but rarely in the vaccinated group where formation of scar tissue was predominant. These results underline the vaccine potential of the recombinant Sm28GST as a possible valuable prophylactic tool for the control of egg-induced pathology and transmission of African schistosomes.